KP raising frivolous objections to CPEC

ISLAMABAD: Less than eight months after an All Parties Conference (APC) on the $46 billion China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC), a controversy is being inflamed once again over the historic game-changer, obviously for petty political gains and not for any love for mega development in any specific area.

KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak is attempting to whip up another row, making unreasonable and unacceptable demands that can’t be accepted or met.

Baloch leader Akhtar Mengal, who has been left with a little political say in Balochistan, is hosting an APC in the federal capital on January 10 on the CPEC. But he is the lone ranger as far as his own province is concerned because all its political forces are fully on board on the CPEC and are eager to see its realisation without any let or hindrance.

Their full agreement was witnessed when three days ago Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, accompanied by all the political players of Balochistan, inaugurated the western route of the CPEC near Zhob. The political leaders welcomed the start of work on the western route.

Besides, the Awami National Party (ANP), which had held an attacking view about the CPEC, was also part of these delegates. However, conspicuous with their absence from the ceremony were the representatives of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

The CPEC is not the name just motorways or highways, but it is comprehensive package containing many elements. It will be completed in phases. The first and foremost is the road connectivity that has to be ensured for fast transportation, and this is the top priority of China as well.

However, Pervez Khattak quickly wants fiber optic, railway line, gas and oil pipeline, LNG, electricity and economic zones in the KP in the first go, which is neither possible nor feasible, without the communication network. The logic of his remarks that “we don’t need a highway (only); build complete corridor; and there is nothing in the project for KP except the highway” are inane and inexplicable. The projects are to be completed in phases with the road connectivity taking precedence over all other stages because unless there is accessibility, other infrastructure will not be much productive and consequential.

As a result of the May APC, a multiparty parliamentary committee was created to review the projects under the CPEC. It will be prudent for the KP chief minister to ask his PTI to raise his ‘concerns’ in this very forum instead of issuing indiscreet and lousy statements to tee off needles discourse on a package that everyone agrees will change the fate of Pakistan.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also voiced reservations over the CPEC saying that the package was being made controversial as some political parties have not been taken into confidence.

Earlier, a campaign was built by the ANP and some other political forces that the original route of the CPEC has been changed to benefit Punjab to the disadvantage of smaller provinces. However, this was effectively dispelled during the APC when all and sundry were assured that not a single inch of the originally proposed route has been altered. Everyone was satisfied after the prime minister had given this explanation. The route under its original plan ran from Gwadar to Quetta, then up to Zhob before veering east towards Dera Ismail Khan. The physical work on the portion near Zhob has now been launched. The fuss being raised by the KP chief is not understandable.

“I warn if the federal government does not address the reservations of KP about the CPEC project, we will take an extreme step. And you will see what we are going to do,” Khattak has warned.

To take care of his objections, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has spoken to him to remove his misconceptions. The federal government will take further steps to allay apprehensions of all kinds.

In another bid to assuage any reservations, Ahsan Iqbal would brief parliamentary leaders from KP on the CPEC on Jan 6. Not only the federal government but all the political parties except for a few rabble-rousers, desperate for political mileage, want the CPEC to move smoothly, realising its importance. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has also talked more than once about the monumental utility and advantages of the CPEC for Pakistan and announced that the package would be implemented and no hurdles would be allowed to impede it come what may.