ISLAMABAD: Former director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations, Lieutenant General (retd) Asim Bajwa is going to be appointed as the chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, Geo News quoted sources as saying.

According to the sources, a summary, prepared by the Prime Minister’s Office, about the appointment of Asim Bajwa had been sent to the Cabinet Division..

Approval on the summary to appoint him as the CPEC Authority’s chairperson is likely to be given in the upcoming meeting of the federal cabinet on Nov 26 (Tuesday). The meeting would be presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The CPEC was made an authority through an ordinance signed by President Arif Alvi on Oct 8, 2019. All the activities of the CPEC would be carried out under the CPEC Authority across Pakistan.

Also Read: Chinese rejects US reservations on CPEC, says Pak-China ties based on win-win cooperation

Senior Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal has expressed suspicion over authenticity of the news of appointment of Asim Bajwa as CPEC Authority’s chairman. He tweeted, “According to the presentation given by the Ministry of Planning & Development to the Parliamentary Committee on the CPEC, the rules for hiring the chairman and members are yet to be framed.

“How could any appointment be made in absence of rules? This news doesn’t look reliable because such gross violation is not expected.”

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, while rejecting US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Alice Wells’ statement about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has said Pak-China relations were based on win-win cooperation and were mutually beneficial.

Addressing the ‘5th CPEC Media Forum (2^nd Phase)’ in Islamabad, he expressed astonishment over Alice Wells’ statement of higher tariff in power plants, established under the CPEC.

The ambassador asked that when in 2013, the Chinese companies were establishing power plants in Pakistan, why the US did not invest in Pakistan’s power sector despite knowing that Pakistan was in dire need of electricity.

He said China had always come forward to assist Pakistan in need without any political or government differences.