Pakistan to become most important in region after completion of CPEC projects: President

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MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 15 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Saturday said that with the completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, Pakistan including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) would witness an unprecedented era of progress and Pakistan would become the most important country in the region.
The President said this during a meeting with Members Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir here.
President AJK Muhammad Masood Khan, Prime Minister AJK Raja Farooq Haider Khan and Speaker AJK Shah Ghulam Qadir were also present during the meeting.
President Mamnoon said that CPEC would open up new avenues for progress and Gwadar Port would be fully functional by the end of this year.
He said that CPEC was a landmark project which included Gwadar airport, infrastructure and energy projects and hoped that the whole country including AJK would get rid of the menace of load-shedding upon completion of ongoing projects by 2018.
President Mamnoon said that corruption was the basic cause of retarding progress in the country in the past and expressed his satisfaction that the present government was proceeding in the right direction and progress and prosperity was our destiny.
He urged the women to acquire education and play their due role in the development of the country while at the same time upholding their cultural values and traditions.
The president and prime minister of AJK including members of Legislative Assembly apprised President Mamnoon Hussain about their problems particularly relating to financial limitations and lack of electricity.
They said that his visit was an expression of solidarity to the people of Kashmir and this would boost their morale and spirits.
They also praised President Mamnoon Hussain’s speech to the joint sitting of Kashmir Council and Legislative Assembly which effectively reflected the sentiments of the Kashmiris and helped to highlight the Kashmir issue in its true perspective at the global level.
President Mamnoon Hussain assured the president, prime minister of AJK and members of Legislative Assembly that he would play his due role in resolution of their problems.
The president declared that he would help rebuilt one of the educational institutions in AJK destroyed during the 2005 earthquake out of Presidency’s official fund.
APP/Saima