Organisers say national conference generated positive debate on CPEC

PESHAWAR: A noted academician and Director of the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar, Professor Dr Fakhr-ul-Islam, said on Sunday the recent two-day national conference generated a positive debate on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as various aspects of the game-changer mega scheme came under discussion at the event.

He said the views expressed by the participants at the conference, titled “Pakistan relations with China” did not necessarily reflect views of the organisers — the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar, and Institute of Policy Studies Islamabad. He hoped the conference proceedings would serve as good reading material for students and researchers and provide a food for thought for the policy makers.

The conference was inaugurated on Wednesday with inaugural and working sessions. Prof. Dr. Sayed Minhajul Hassan, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, presided both the sessions. Highlighting objectives of the conference on the day one, Prof. Dr. Fakhr-ul-Islam said through this conference the organisers wanted to explore various dimensions of Pak-China relations. He hoped the conference would provide food for thought to academia, researchers and policy makers both in private and public sectors.

Inaugurating the conference Prof. Dr. Sayed Minhajul Hassan said that China is trusted friend of Pakistan. The mutual relationship is benefiting both the states. He said that Pakistan had to play proactive role in making the bond of friendship stronger and protecting its national interest through it.

A working session was held in the afternoon. Three scholars read out papers.Prof. Dr. Shabir Ahmad from the Area Study Centre (Russia China and Central Asia) spoke on “CPEC in the multi-polar world”. He critically analyzed various aspects of the CPEC.

He said this corridor is faced with internal and external challenges which need to be addressed before embarking on the project. Prof. Dr. Husain Shaheed Suharwardi of the Department of International Relations spoke on “The China-Pakistan Nexus: Dealing with trade and the Taliban”. He highlighted threats and challenges to Sino-Pak relations in the wake of US withdrawal from Afghanistan and rise of Taliban.

The academician said Pakistan needs to carefully peruse its goals in volatile situation Afghanistan.Hadia Nawaz from Swabi took into account controversies surrounding the CPEC. She suggested to the federal government to protect the interests of the smaller provinces, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On the second (concluding) day, the speakers called for a consensus on the routes and distribution of projects among the federating units under the CPEC, warning that any controversy may jeopardize the vital scheme.

The academicians and experts read out research-based papers that encompassed various aspects of the Sino-Pak ties.  Muhammad Ayaz, Assistant Professor, Kohat University, talked about “Pak-China relations in the perspective of politics in Pakistan”.

He said political forces in Pakistan were divided between Russian and Chinese blocs in the beginning. This polarization, he added, played an important role in shaping up Sino-Pak relations.

Prof Dr. Jehanzeb Khan of the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan spoke on “Different dimensions of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor”. He stressed the need for national consensus on the routes and distribution of projects among the provinces. He warned that any controversy could jeopardize the project.

Air Commodore Khalid Iqbal, a consultant from Islamabad Policy Research Institute, spoke on “Pak-China Relations: The strategic aspects”. He gave various components of the strategic relations established between the two countries which encompassed trade, military and cultural ties.

The expert said certain international actors were working to keep both the friendly nations at bay. However, the time-tested friendship has thwarted all such moves, he added. The Director General of Institute of Policy Studies Islamabad, Khalid Rahman, who presided the second working session, spoke on “New Trends in Pak-China Relations”. 

He said the incumbent leadership is the one which witnessed Pakistan’s contribution to China in their childhood. As such they are obliged and want to help out Pakistan. The expert said it would be quite unfortunate if Pakistan failed to benefit from such a Pakistan-loving leadership.  Khalid Rahman said that some regional powers and political forces in Pakistan were busy in making the CPEC and other projects controversial. He advised the federal government to make CPEC more transparent so that its benefits go to Pakistan.