ISLAMABAD, 19 September 2021, (TON): Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said security threats had increased in the country because of opposition by international powers to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the latest situation in Afghanistan.

“Security threat is elevated,” he said in response to a question at a hurriedly called news conference, adding that no doubt development on CPEC was looked upon with aversion by big global powers who wanted to sow dissension in the country. The challenges are also there because of the uncertain Afghan situation. “So there are not only security challenges, but these are at an elevated level,” he said.

However, Mr Umar said “the entire leadership led by the prime minister and also including the army chief and other security high-ups had taken effective steps that had also been shared with the Chinese leadership who had expressed confidence in the additional security arrangements.”

Minister asks politicians to be careful while commenting on corridor projects

He said “in such situations politicians ought to be careful while commenting on CPEC.”

He said that there was no bar on criticism and recommendations but it should not be described like “closed down, finished or destroyed”.

The minister was referring to the observations by chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning Salim Mandviwala who recently said the Chinese ambassador and companies had complained about slow pace of work on CPEC projects.