The CPEC initiatives

Coming in the backdrop of the phenomenal economic progress of China and the global economic recession of 2008, the Belt and Road Initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping aims at a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa.

This is not merely the revival of the ancient silk route for trade. The initiative also envisages a participatory effort for the economic progress of the countries associated with the initiative as well as development of necessary infrastructure in those countries. This visionary move by the Chinese leadership is probably the biggest ever economic plan designed to share the fruits of economic development at the global level.

More than 100 countries and international organisations have so far joined the Belt and Road Initiative, 30 countries have formally signed agreements with China and more than 20 countries have entered into collaboration to promote industrial development.

President Xi Jinping has said: “The Belt and Road [Initiative] can be seen as an opportunity to promote transnational interconnection, improve trade and investment cooperation, advance cooperation in international capacity and equipment manufacturing to rebalance and stabilise the world economy.”

This indicates China’s abiding commitment to realise the objectives of the Belt and Road Initiative. The CPEC is one of the most important components of this initiative. Both China and Pakistan rightly view it as a harbinger of transformational change in the region and beyond as well as a catalyst to an exponential increase in the economic relations between them which has the potential to build regional linkages for shared economic prosperity. Both are also committed and striving hard to see its completion on time.

China will no doubt greatly benefit from the implementation of the project but the impact on Pakistan’s economy on a perennial basis will be absolutely phenomenal. An investment of $42 billion in energy and infrastructure projects that will link Kashghar with Gwadar are likely to revolutionise Pakistan’s economic profile and make it a hub of economic activity in the region, with the Central Asian states and possibly Russia also using Gwadar for their commercial interests. This project has immortalised the already existing exemplary friendship and economic cooperation between the two countries.

It is probably the likely economic impact of the CPEC on Pakistan and the region that is not tolerable for some regional and international powers, and they are trying their best to sabotage it. The spate of recent acts of terrorism, particularly in Balochistan, is undoubtedly a foreign-sponsored crime designed to sabotage the CPEC.

The arrest of the Indian navy officer in Balochistan and his confessions are irrefutable evidence of Indian designs regarding the CPEC. Reportedly, a special cell has been created in RAW for the purpose. The statement of Indian Prime Minister Modi on alleged human rights violations in Balochistan tells the whole story.

However, the civilian and military leadership in Pakistan are firmly committed to have the CPEC implemented at any cost. They are intensely aware of the benefits that would accrue to Pakistan and the prospects of economic progress of the country in the future. Notwithstanding some politicking by certain political elements and detractors of the project, it enjoys national ownership.

The army has taken it upon itself to ensure the security of the infrastructure being developed under the CPEC, and protect the Chinese engineers working on CPEC projects and at Gwadar. A special security division comprising 15,000 personnel has been raised for the purpose. The government and military establishment have also stepped up the operation against terrorists and their facilitators in the country by initiating a combing operation which has already starting paying dividends. A number of people have already been arrested in different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, work on the first batch of CPEC projects including infrastructure and energy is already in full swing and it is believed that they will be completed by the end of 2017-18. Work on the western route is progressing satisfactorily. The FWO which has been assigned the task of building the western route portion in Balochistan has already completed 870 kms of the route and the rest is likely to be completed by the end of the year.

Work on vocational training institutions at Gwadar is nearing completion. These institutions will impart technical training to the local youth in different trades to enhance their chance of employability in projects under the CPEC and other related ventures. A number of health facilities and water supply schemes are also nearing completion at Gwadar. The construction of an international airport at Gawadar and East Bay Expressway in Gwadar are in the advanced stage of approval by China.

The government is also giving top priority to the completion of energy projects not only to tide over the existing energy crisis in the country but also to generate enough energy to meet the energy needs of the industrial zones to be established along CPEC routes.

The foregoing facts effectively neutralise the propaganda that the government is giving top priority to the eastern route and not doing anything about the western route.

These elements fail to realise that the CPEC has a timeline of 2030 and the projects under it will be implemented in different phases. The initiative will start accruing benefits to all regions of the country when all the projects under it are fully implemented. Raising objections and indulging in politicking prematurely is neither desirable nor in the interests of the country. In view of the attempts by external forces to undermine the initiative, we need complete national unity and harmony as far as the CPEC is concerned.

The writer is a freelance contributor.

Email: ashpak10@gmail.com