No strings attached?

All forms of foreign investment, aid or loan have some strings attached to them. The same holds true for the CPEC funding. Maybe the strings attached to CPEC are invisible. However, it can only mean that some tacit understandings (good or bad) between donor and recipient are not fit to be written, and that certain obligations are being incurred according to unstated norms of reciprocity. There is no such thing as free aid or investment. All these mode of financing carry some cost and consequences – some economic, some political, some social and some environmental. When a country accepts tonnes of aid from another country, it most likely also accepts certain tacit expectations on the conduct of its foreign relations and foreign nationals. Don’t forget the East India Company.

It is unfortunate that the local media has been reporting numerous arrests of some Chinese nationals who are accused of withdrawing cash with forged ATM cards in Karachi. Shockingly, the culprits also revealed that an organised group is carrying out such activities across the country. Hundreds of cards and skimmers were also recovered from them. We don’t know what the future holds for us and what will happen when more such people will enter our country. We should work for safeguarding our people especially our social and moral culture before it is too late.

Amir Haider Panjpir

Peshawar