National Conference “CPEC: Exploring Opportunities & Prospects for Urbanization & Industrialization in Balochistan”

A national conference on “CPEC: Exploring Opportunities & Prospects for Urbanization & Industrialization in Balochistan” was organized by Centre of Excellence under Urban Development theme and BUITEMS, Quetta in collaboration with Government of Balochistan and Urban Unit-Punjab.

The main objectives of the conference was to have a purposeful discussion on the strategic importance of CPEC for Balochistan, to address the view point of stakeholders of Balochistan on impact of CPEC and to highlight the challenges and opportunities, assess the urbanization and industrialization prospects of CPEC for Balochistan and prepare a roadmap on the opportunities for future urban development and industrial growth in Balochistan, especially in the context of CPEC.

The conference was structured into two sessions. The session 1 was inaugural session which started with welcome Remarks by Dr. Saleem Janjua, Head of Policy, COE-CPEC. The opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Shahid Rashid, Executive Director, COE-CPEC followed by remarks of Mr. Asfandyar Kakar, Secretary, Planning & Development Department, Balochistan. On behalf of Urban Unit, Punjab, remarks were given by Mr. Khurram Afzal, Senior Specialist Economics. This was followed by remarks of Engr. Ahmed Farooq Bazai, Vice Chancellor, BUITEMS. The chief guest of the session was Ms. Raheela Hameed Durrani, Speaker Provincial Assembly, Balochistan. She addressed the session and acknowledged the vitality of the conference for Balochistan. The session concluded with MoU signing between COE-CPEC, Islamabad and BUITEMS, Quetta.

The session 2 was the technical session which was structured into 6 sessions which are as follows

1. CPEC Projects Update: Prospects for Balochistan by Mujeeb ur Rehman, Chief Programming & Foreign Aid, Planning and Development Department, Government of Balochistan.
2. Role of BOI in the Context of SEZs & CPEC by Abdul Samie, Director CPEC, Board of Investment (BOI)
3. Poverty, Social Sector and CPEC by Ms. Asma Hyder Baloch, Member Social Sector, Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform, Islamabad
4. Preparedness of Bostan SEZ by Ahmad Aziz Tarar, Secretary Industries & Commerce, Government of Balochistan
5. Current Status & Future Roadmap of Gawadar by Munir Ahmed, Director General, Gawadar Port Authority
6. Strategic View of CPEC in the Regional and Trans-regional Context by Jamil Ahmed Khan, Ex-Official Govt. of Pakistan

The session concluded with an insightful and productive question and answer session between the speakers and the audience. The session was moderated by Dr. Shahid Rashid, Executive Director COE-CPEC. The conference concluded with Vote of Thanks by Mr. Ahsan Achakzai of BUITEMS. The event was well received by Government officials, practitioners, academia and students who jointly agreed that to make CPEC a game changer and a corridor of hope for Balochistan collaborative efforts are the need of the time.