US diplomat criticises CPEC, says no transparency in projects undertaken by China

Senior US diplomat Alice Wells has said that re is transparency in China-Pakistan Ecomic Corridor (CPEC) and firms blacklisted by World Bank have got contracts under USD 60 billion project, which will increase cash-strapped country's debt burden.

Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia who is here on a four-day visit to Pakistan, me remarks while speaking at a think tank event on Tuesday.

CPEC is a planned network of ros, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang province with Pakistan's strategic Gwar Port on Arabian Sea.

project was launched in 2015 when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan and it w enviss investment of over USD 60 billion in different projects of development in Pakistan.

Wells said that re was transparency in CPEC projects and Pakistan's debt burden was growing due to Chinese financing, Dawn newspaper reported.

While reiterating allegations against CPEC, Wells said that companies blacklisted by World Bank h got contracts in CPEC.

Commenting on her remarks, Chinese embassy here on Wednesday rejected "negative propaganda" by US diplomat against CPEC.

"Although you can never wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep, we have to make our position clear and reject negative propaganda by US," embassy's spokesperson said in a statement.

spokesperson said Wells' comments hold thing new but were reflection of her speech in vember, 2019, which was rejected by China and Pakistan. China h always requested Chinese companies to operate according to local laws and regulations, spokesperson said.

" entire process is open and transparent and is in line with international rm. We keep in touch with relative accountability ncies of Pakistan and it is agreed that CPEC is clean," spokesperson ded.

embassy also rejected her remarks that CPEC was burdening Pakistan with debt.

"In fact, international financial institutions including Paris Club and IMF are largest creditors of Pakistan. Loan for CPEC is about USD 5.8 billion, accounting for 5.3 per cent of Pakistan's total foreign debt,” it said. embassy vowed that China would continue to work with Pakistani government and people to steily vance BRI and CPEC to promote regional peace and development.

Wells h in vember last year urged Pakistanis to ask "tough questions" to China on CPEC, saying project is going to take a toll on country's ecomy.

Criticising CPEC, she urged Pakistan to rethink its involvement in it.

During her Tuesday's speech, Wells also questioned immunity from prosecution for newly formed CPEC Authority that served as focal body working to identify new areas of cooperation and projects, besides facilitation, coordination and monitoring of ongoing projects.

Talking about Pakistan's debt issue, Wells insisted that Chinese money was t an assistance.

By getting Chinese financing for projects, Pakistan was buying expensive loans and as a buyer it needed to be aware that what it was doing would take a heavy toll on its alrey struggling ecomy.

Wells' recent remarks were me after Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi sought closer engment and a robust tre and investment relationship between Pakistan and US during his recent visit to Washington.

Qureshi h also sought help from US to get country off Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) grey list.

US has been critical of CPEC. Some of projects h alrey been completed but ors were facing delays as Pakistan and China are working on operational and funding details.

diplomat also touched on cost escalation in a railways project linking Karachi with Peshawar. She urged government to be transparent about mega project.