Summary Federal Minister says Imran should consult aides before giving statements
ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Defence, Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Chinese investment is not loan. He said that China was bringing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan. He advised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to consult his aides before issuing statements. “Imran Khan has started to cry before death”, Khawaja Asif said.
Holding a press conference today (Tuesday) in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif said that the government has not bypassed any bidding rule. He said that all the tenders were advertised. “You would have seen our ads for Gaddani power plants in newspapers”, Asif said. “Chinese banks will issue commercial loans to private entities in Pakistan”, he said. He said that mark up rate is 7% and will not affect the balance sheet. “Investment in Thar Coal project is also included in the 34 billion dollar investment”, Asif said. 2 coal based power plants are being set up, he told.
“NEPRA is the most independent body of all the independent bodies and defends its independence almost militantly. It has members from all provinces of the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK) and decisions are taken with consultation”, Minister for Water and Power said. He also said that no changes were made in the PEPRA laws. “Chairman NEPRA is not my brother, he is from Sindh”, he said.
China, Asif said, is providing loan because of three of its banks. The coal based projects will not use Chines coal, he told. He said that Chines banks gave more amount to Pakistan because of the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.
Earlier, Imran Khan had said that the Chinese President was only coming to give loans to Pakistan and was not going to do any investment.
