LAHORE: Speakers at a session at ThinkFest on Saturday said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should not be beneEcialfor Pakistan alone but other countries too should be the beneficiary of such a mega scheme -an important part of the Belt & Road initiative.

`The CPEC is politically, economically and strategically important for China in particular as it will succeed in avoiding a very long route to reach the Gulf States through eastern and western routes in Pakistan, providing opportunities to Afghanistan,Iran, India and other countries, said Khalid Butt of the GC University.

He said Pal(istan, which had failed to become an agricultural or industrial country, was now passing through the servicing model like Singapore and other states.

`Let`s see how we make progress in the service sector now since we have already experienced the agricultural and industrial based economy that couldn`t succeed,` he added.

The session titled `CPEC and its Global Context` was moderated by Ms Maria Sultan, SASSI university director general. The session was fol-lowed by a question & answer hour allocated for the general public.

`I would love to see Pakistan as a manufacturing country. But it doesn`t seem possible since we are heading towards a servicing country like Singapore and Malaysia. We cannot become a manufacturing country since we don`t have technology, adequate electricity, skills etc, Mr Butt said while responding to a question.

He urged the government to complete the CPEC western route at a fast pace besides establishing special economic zones. `It will increase foreign investment in the country, he said.