Pakistan Army set to gain sweeping Belt and Road authority

Bill grants military-linked body carte blanche over $50bn CPEC projects

20201128 Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army's construction and engineering unit is to be a big beneficiary of a controversial bill expected to pass in December, analysts say. © Reuters

MIFRAH HAQ, Contributing writer

KARACHI -- Pakistan is set to pass legislation that would place a supranational body that oversees the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's flagship Belt and Road Initiative, under control of a Pakistan Army that would also gain sweeping powers.

A parliamentary committee earlier this month passed the CPEC Authority Bill 2020 despite strong opposition from some lawmakers. According to Junaid Akbar, chairman of the parliamentary committee, the bill will be presented to parliament for a final vote in the second week of December.

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