A senior politician from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has called for Islamabad to include the Afghanistan-Pakistan Highway in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
Addressing a public rally in Charsadda district on Saturday, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairperson Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao argued such a move would boost the economies of both neighbours.
He said: “Only strong communication networks can boost the country’s weak economy. The highway should be included in the $46 billion project. Linking the Pak-Afghan Highway to CPEC will provide traders easy access to Central Asian markets.”
Also a former interior minister, Sherpao asked the federal government to begin work on the western route of CPEC on a priority basis. “Industrial zones should be established. Other projects should also be initiated in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as per the agreement.” (PAN)