MM News

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday extended the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Ordinance 2019 for another 120 days.

The federal government had earlier introduced a resolution seeking an extension for the Ordinance which expired in June. Lieutenant General (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa was serving as the CPEC Authority chairman.

The ordinance was promulgated on October 8, 2019 and had a ten-member authority was established to expedite projects along the multi-billion dollar road and rail network.

The authority is mandated with exploring economic growth and unlocking the potential of an interlined production network through regional and global connectivity. The ordinance had been extended by the lower house through a resolution in January 2020 for 120 days.

Meanwhile, in the Upper House, Senator Raza Rabbani questioned the legal standing of the CPEC Authority after the expiry of the presidential ordinance.

The PPP leader made a call to attention on the matter and questioned the government’s handling of CPEC. He questioned on the functioning of the authority when the ordinance has expired, pointing out that the authority’s utilisation of CPEC funds was illegal.

He accused the federal government of purposefully allowing the ordinance to lapse. He said there is no law governing the project at the moment and the federal government should introduce new legislation. The upper house of Parliament a ruckus as Rabbani finished his argument.

Responding to Rabbani’s statements, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz insisted that the federal government will now allow anyone to derail CPEC projects. “We designed the CPEC Authority to make it more efficient. We are here to build the same institutions that you destroyed.” “We will not let you destroy CPEC,” he added.

Shibli said the government intends to present a bill concerning the CPEC Authority in the National Assembly soon and the matter will be discussed.