QUETTA: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is likely to visit Zhob on Wednesday to inaugurate western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Official sources said here on Tuesday that arrangements had been finalised for the visit of the premier.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be visiting Zhob to inaugurate western route of CPEC,” they said, adding that he would also address a gathering of tribal elders and citizens there.

The political leaders who were expressing their reservations over the CPEC, including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, ANP central leader Main Iftikhar Hussain, Chairman Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party Mehmood Khan Achakzai and others would also be attending the ceremony.

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri had disclosed last week that the prime minister would visit Zhob and inaugurate western route of CPEC that would remove the apprehension and doubts over $46 billion mega project.

“The government has planned to establish two major industrial zones along CPEC in areas including Zhob and Khuzdar while several other small industrial zones along CPEC would also be established in the province,” Nawab Zehri said, adding that the government was going to acquire 10,000 acres of land in Zhob for the industrial zone.

He said that the CPEC would help in providing jobs to millions of youths in Balochistan besides boosting local economy.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2015