n a shocking development an attack on a convoy carrying some Chinese citizens near Besham last month claimed precious lives

When an agreement on China Pakistan Economic Corridor was announced in 2013, the government of Pakistan made a commitment to ensure that there were no delays and that the project sites and those working on those would be provided fool proof security. To this end, two divisions were raised by Pakistan Army and a dedicated Task Force by Pakistan Navy.

The Special Security Divisions of the army look after land based projects while the naval task force secures the Gwadar port and its approaches. Security of the Chinese experts and workers associated with these projects is part of the overall security plans. Despite scepticism about the CPEC in some quarters globally, governments in Pakistan have been resolved to complete the CPEC. The security agencies have been providing routine security.

The CPEC is the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. It promises handsome dividends for Pakistan. Today, Pakistan’s biggest challenge today is the weak economic indicators. The CPEC has the potential to change that through infrastructure development, power generation, skills development and creation of new business opportunities.

The CPEC is currently in its second phase. While the first phase focused on infrastructure development, the focus in the second phase is on industrialisation, modernisation of agriculture and information technology to stimulate economic growth, reduce poverty and enhance regional connectivity. Many Chinese engineers and workers are present in Pakistan to help complete these projects.

Ever since the CPEC was launched, there have been efforts to derail it through physical as well as diplomatic attacks. There has been evidence of foreign funding for Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Baloch Liberation Army that have been carrying out terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Besides there has been a wide-ranging disinformation campaign against the overall idea of the CPEC, which has been presented as a debt trap for Pakistan.

The project has also been attacked in terms of polluting the environment and aggravating the climate change risks. However, both China and Pakistan have forged ahead to complete the projects and refused to be distracted by the propaganda. There have been no major delays except those caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

809 kilometres of road network has been added to the national highways and motorways. Four special economic zones located at Rashakai, Dhabeji, Faisalabad and Bostan, are in various phases of completion.

Operationalisation of Gwadar Port and its free zones, dredging of the port, construction of East Bay Express Way, New Gwadar International Airport, Pak-China Friendship Hospital and Pakistan-China Vocational Training Institute are set to catalyse socio-economic uplift in the area.

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-power lighting systems and basic health facilities have also been undertaken.

Recently there has been an increase in attacks on CPEC projects

There is no way these projects can be abandoned. That is the reason why the government of Pakistan has reiterated its resolve to bring the culprits to the book and make security of the projects and those working on them, including Chinese nationals, fool proof. Efforts to delay or deny CPEC dividends are going to fail.

Countries like Pakistan have to strike a balance between their relations with the West and the emerging economic giants in Asia.

More evidence has come to light recently that India has been involved in overseas killings in Pakistan as well as Canada and the US. A Guardian report has revealed that the Indian government has been involved in killing at least 20 Pakistanis since 2020.

The CPEC is a testament to deep friendship between Pakistan and China that has stood the test of time. Both the governments and people of these countries are convinced that their efforts will bear fruit. It is just a matter of time. Completion and operationalisation of the CPEC is going to be a crowning achievement.

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