ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The government of Pakistan here on Tuesday appointed chief of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority with an aim to speed up research and the execution of the development projects under the mega program, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division.
A meeting of the cabinet chaired by the country's Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the appointment of retired Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa as chairperson of the CPEC Authority for a period of four years.
In October, Pakistani President Arif Alvi promulgated an ordinance to set up the new body to oversee and implement CPEC after a joint forum of the civilian and military leadership had approved the proposal.
The authority would work under the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and it would have financial and administrative powers, make its own budget for investments and coordinate among provinces and different government departments to remove bottlenecks, administrative weaknesses and financial constraints related to CPEC.
The new government body has also been authorized to undertake research for long-term planning, enter into contracts, acquire and hold property.
Prior to being appointed as CPEC Authority chairperson, Bajwa served as Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of Pakistan army, and also as a commander of Pakistan army's southern command.
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