'CPEC spillover to benefit entire region': PM addresses CAREC conference

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, addressing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) conference on Wednesday, said that the benefits of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would spill over to the entire region.

The prime minister said that mutual cooperation among the member countries is necessary to eliminate poverty from the region. He added that a strong communications infrastructure is needed to establish and maintain effective contact between the countries in the region.

The 15th Ministerial Conference of CAREC countries started today in Islamabad in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank.

About 200 participants from 10 member countries and multilateral development partners are attending the event. The member countries include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the host Pakistan.

A meeting chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar here on Sunday reviewed arrangements for the conference. The Finance Minister said the conference will play a vital role in the economic development of the CAREC area.