he China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is completing 10 years since its inception in 2013. The government of Pakistan is celebrating the CPEC decade. A variety of activities is planned to acknowledge the achievements and highlight the hopes for the future.

The CPEC is a flagship project of China’s economic initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which entails collective development via regional connectivity. The CPEC was envisaged to benefit not only China and Pakistan but also to have a positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, the Central Asian Republics and the region in general.

When the CPEC was conceived initially, China committed $46 billion investment. The amount was later increased to more than $60 billion. So far, around $30 billion has been spent on the projects that have been completed and some that are under way.

The CPEC focused development in a variety of areas. These included energy, road infrastructure, Special Economic Zones and social sector. Besides, special projects were conceived and executed for Gwadar.

In the energy sector, projects for generating 8,620 MW of electricity have been completed so far in various parts of Pakistan. It is noteworthy that these projects include coal-fired, solar, hydel and wind-powered generating systems. Projects yielding another 5,088 MW have been planned for the future and are currently at various stages of completion.

So far, 809 kilometres of road network have been added to the national highways and motorways. Another more than 1,700 kilometres is to be added. Once completed, these networks will improve connectivity throughout the country.

Special Economic Zones (SEZ) play an important role in encouraging business in the country as well as smooth flow of trade. Under the CPEC four SEZs located at Rashakai, Dhabeji, Allama Iqbal Industrial City in Faisalabad and Bostan at Pishin, are either near completion or are in various phases of development.

For Gwadar, there have been concerted efforts by China and Pakistan. The development projects undertaken in this regard include operationalisation of the port and its free zones; dredging of the port; construction of East Bay Express Way; linking the port with the Makran Coastal Highway; New Gwadar International Airport facilitating operation of aircraft as big as A380; upgrade of the water distribution system; Pak China Friendship Hospital; water desalination plants of 1.2 and 5 MGD and provision of 100 MW electricity from Iran.

Comprehensive master plans have been approved separately for the city and for the port to ensure advancement. The Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan includes facilities and commodities required by any modern city. Work on Gwadar Safe City project is also under way to make the city more investor-friendly.

A wholesome development plan for the port is in place according to which the Gwadar port will have 88 berths by the year 2050. It will be able to handle more cargo than the other Pakistani ports. To facilitate port development and operations, construction of a breakwater is being planned. The construction of a fish landing jetty and support for boat-making industry are also in the pipeline.

Special attention is being paid to prepare and equip local manpower with skills needed for the operation of the port and other CPEC related projects. In this connection, vocational training as well as university-level courses are being offered in the relevant areas. It is time higher education in Pakistan shifted its focus to vocational and technical training.

Special attention is being paid to equip the local manpower with skills needed for the operation of the port and other CPEC-related projects. Vocational training as well as university-level courses are being offered in the relevant areas.

Pak-China Vocational Training Institute at Gwadar, offering state-of-the-art training and boarding facilities is now functional. The Gwadar Institute of Technology is offering diploma courses in diverse subjects and the University of Gwadar has established the Department of Maritime Affairs to educate local students in modern trends in the blue economy, coastal tourism and fishing etc.

Socio-economic uplift of the people in regions where CPEC projects are being built has also been a concern for both Pakistani and Chinese authorities. In this context, projects related to poverty alleviation, such as vocational training, provision of technical laboratories, equipment and tools for agriculture, renovation of schools, smart classroom systems, distribution of solar-powered lighting systems and basic health facilities have been undertaken.

The CPEC is bringing phenomenal changes to various aspects of lives of a large number of people.

In showcasing the decade of the CPEC, one needs to prioritise the role of print, electronic and social media influencers. They should be taken aboard so that the next decade of the CPEC does not suffer from a disconnect between the policy makers and the local populace.

It appears that there is a need to chart a people-inclusive plan for the next decade of the CPEC which must cater for the involvement of people of Pakistan in the projects. The academia, think tanks and media houses should be encouraged to highlight the CPEC on a regular basis to keep the discourse alive. Capacity building workshops and youth engagement programmes across Pakistan can play a pivotal role in producing technical experts required for running these projects.

An effective communication strategy should be devised for the projection of the achievements during the past decade and future outlook of the CPEC, while engaging social media influencers, bloggers, vloggers and writers. Competitions among media influencers hailing from respective areas can help improve the projection of the CPEC.

Leading universities can be asked to serve or provide support in the under-developed areas of the CPEC by accommodating local students through scholarships, admission quotas and fee concessions. Student exchange programmes among the provinces should be initiated.

Introducing CPEC ambassadors across the country for various categories can also help. For instance, a CPEC ambassador on energy can create his or her team of representatives, including youngsters who can showcase their work via seminars, roundtables, podcasts, op-eds, TV shows, poster competitions and art work. This will help in evaluating every province’s strength and weakness.

Pakistan must endeavour to seek benefits from the Digital Silk Route concept. It is the future; the earlier it materialises, the better.

The capacity of Pakistani fishermen needs to be enhanced. Fishermen need to be engaged and taught modern trends and techniques in fishing. The next generation of fishermen needs to be encouraged to learn the best ways of approaching their fathers’ work.

The CPEC decade (2013 to 2023) has been far from disappointing. Several mega projects have been completed and are now playing a role in our lives. There is a need to garner public support for the CPEC.

The writer is a communication strategist at the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad. She can be reached at reema.asim81@gmail.com