Most objections on CPEC based on misconceptions

ISLAMABAD: Actual details of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and different documents suggest that majority of the objections on the CPEC, especially those recently highlighted by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak are either not specific or based on misconceptions, misunderstanding, lack of coordination between federating units and inability to understand that the whole C-Pak is split into short, medium and long term projects.

Not only this, provinces can suggest and can manage to add financially and technically viable projects, for which Pakistan will also have to convince China. But, mechanism agreed for inclusion of new projects reflects that such suggestions for any new projects by provinces can be made only after comprehensive study and planning instead of mere politicking.

While complaining that his province was being given less share in CPEC as compared to its rightful proportion, the KP chief minister has stated that the federal government just wanted to build roads and not corridor with facilities like oil and gas pipelines, railway network and fibre optics. He said that he will not allow implementation of corridor projects in his province if due share of KP was not given.

Senior defence analyst AVM Shehzad Chaudhry said that this statement was an attempt to have political mileage by winning Pakhtoon nationalist votes as the ANP participated in inauguration ceremony of the CPEC’s western route. He said timing of making the demand reflects frustration of the KP government which otherwise could not perform and now wants to make a national project controversial.

On the other hand, the information of the KP chief minister was not correct on many counts. Major General (R) Dr Zahir Shah, Project Director of CPEC, while talking to The News said that in the short term projects under the CPEC, the work of installation of fibre optic was already in progress along with the construction of roads and process of installation of fibre optic from Khunjrab to Islamabad will be completed next year and it will also be passing through KP. Zahir Shah said completion of installation of fibre will revolutionise the speed and connectivity in telecom sector and KP will definitely be a beneficiary.

He added that railway networks are already being enhanced and updated across the country including KP. He again explained that new railway networks as well as oil pipelines are not the part of short term CPEC projects and will be taken up in next phases. He said Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal is visiting KP today (Wednesday) to elaborate things and to remove any misunderstandings.

Zahir Shah said the KP government can come up with any proposals of new financially and technically viable projects during meetings of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) which would definitely be taken up at the working group and would be discussed with China.

He said that KP will have all corridor facilities which will be available in other provinces including fibre optic and industrial zones etc and any information contrary to it is consequence of misunderstanding or lack ofproper coordination. He said that three members from KP including a parliamentary secretary participated in recent meeting of JCC held in Karachi and they also presented their suggestions. Zahir Shah added that Havelian dry port is a big project and it is also situated in KP. He said that work on roads from Havelian onward is already under progress. Zahir said that hydel electricity projects like Diamer-Bhasha and Dasu will also be financed during next phases of the CPEC. He said that any proposals for industrial zones from KP will be considered only after they are presented by the provincial government. He said that industrial zones in KP are definitely a part of CPEC.

General Zahir Shah told The News that there is a need for more engagements with KP and other provinces to remove any misunderstandings about CPEC as this project is meant to benefit all parts of the country. Zahir added that all the three passages will be completed but priority is being given to the Western route. He said that if any specific objection on any project of the CPEC is highlighted by anyone, that can be discussed in detail.

Zahir explained that most of the objections are made as it is considered that the whole planning of the CPEC is finalised and now implementation has been started. He said it was a wrong perception. He said the CPEC is a joint project of Pakistan and China and both the countries have to agree on every project and its financial and technical viability. He said there is great room for more projects in the CPEC but provinces will have to come up with well-planned proposals of doable and beneficial projects so those can be taken up and approved by working group and JCC.