CPEC key to be an Asian tiger

Despite possessing two different social and political systems,

Pakistan and China have set an outstanding precedent of
cooperation and friendship by adhering five principles of
peaceful coexistence, share weal and woe, act in a good faith,
respect each other and support each other. For the last sixty
years, Pak-China affable relations have withstood international
fluctuations and rooted into the hearts of the people of both
countries. In this regard, China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a
milestone and initiation of a new era of economic and strategic
cooperation as well. China wants to reestablish the ancient
trade “Silk Route” which had been used for trade since ages
and China Pakistan Economic Corridor is the initiation of this
enormous vision. Silk route played a central role in connecting
people and regions on commercial bases. It was a fast and
strong system of roads from China to Mediterranean Sea and
from Ural to Indian Ocean. This route provided a luxury to
communicate different civilizations and exposed the region in
terms of distinctive cultures, ideas, knowledge, and Economic
experiences. Many states initiated the Silk Road project but
Chinese program is favorable for Pakistan and an economically
strong country can take larger initiatives for the establishment
of New Silk Road. Standing at the start of twenty-first century,
Pakistan and China jointly proposed to construct “China-
Pakistan Economic Corridor”, a part of “New Silk Road
Economic Belt” and “New Maritime Silk Road”, as a result of a
visit paid by the Premier Li Keqiang to Pakistan in May 2013.
CPEC is a part of “One Belt One Road” vision expounded by
Chinese President Xi Jinping which would connect sixty plus
countries by land and maritime links across Asia and Europe.
CPEC is a collection of infrastructure projects in Pakistan which
was initially valued forty six (46) billion dollars now extended
till sixty two (62) billion dollars. Geographically, Pakistan is
located in strategically important place makes it a corridor
between the South East Asian countries and energy-rich Middle
Eastern states. CPEC is an extra-ordinary concept based on the
existing trunk highways and railways of both countries. The
corridor encourages of construction of cross border network of
highways, railways, airlines, fiber-optic cables and oil-gas
pipelines on both sides of the fences. Economic corridor is a
complete package containing the connection of Karakoram
highway from Kashgar to Gawadar Port providing China a
direct access to the warm waters of Arabian Sea, coal power
and hydropower projects and economic park projects for textile
and home appliances and other sectors. Pakistan will surely get
advantage from this mega project which will lead Pakistan
towards its economic stability, in improving the livelihoods of
its people, by providing better living conditions and social
harmony. China’s Muslim Province Singiang is somehow
considered to be the largest beneficiary of corridor would also
promote the economic development, better living conditions to
the people of Singiang and social security as well. Many
columnists and scholars of both countries show their worry
about the security of China Pakistan Economic Corridor
considering the sabotage activities of terrorists in Pakistan and
constant military operations against the non-state actors
instigating anti-state agendas in Pakistan. Insecurity and risk
do exist but it will hamper the construction of economic
corridor. Safety and economic development are the two
complementary issues. CPEC is undoubtedly the “Game
Changer” for Pakistan and it would bring common prosperity to
both Pakistan and Muslim-congregated Xingiang. More than
sixty percent of the world’s crude oil with the worth of four
trillion dollars annually comes from Middle Eastern states
passes through the Strait of Malacca annually which is
strategically one of the most important shipping lanes of the
world connecting Indian and Pacific Ocean and it runs between
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. USA has military and naval
deployments on the shores of Singapore. Construction of
2000km long railway track and oil-gas pipelines will not only
give the short and easy access towards energy-rich Middle
Eastern states but it would also give a strategic check-post to
China in Indian ocean against USA’s strategic partner India
which is also a point of worry to both USA and India. China
expects that the economic corridor will make it capable enough
to suck oil and gas from Central Asian countries with the help
of pipelines through Baluchistan into Sinkiang. Chinese goods
would have much more compatible, nimble and fast route to
global markets than the Strait of Malacca, which China
presumes is at the mercy of America. China and America have
tense relation with each other in the South China Sea. China
has dispute with some other countries such as Vietnam and
Philippines, the American allies over the Spratly and Paracel
Islands. China apprehends American hegemonic intentions in
the region in the vicinity of Malacca Strait. In the conflict of
two, China’s trade and supply may be blocked. China’s
economy would be jeopardized. Thus, China needs an
alternative route and such route is Gawadar developed by
Pakistan and China in 2007 and to make Gawadar fully
operational, CPEC is imperative. Furthermore, China also wants
to cope with the insurgency in Sinkiang. In order to do so, it
needs to develop the region which is its largest province and is
Muslin-dominated. Development, China hopes, would help to
quell the movement. Further, if Pakistan’s economy prospers
economically, terrorism in Pakistan would dwindle and this
would have positive impact on Sinkiang. Thus, China likes to
invest in Pakistan for all these benefits, even though risk still
prevails. Constructing China Pakistan Economic Corridor will
bring regional harmony and better economic ties. It will provide
China a shorter, cheaper and more secured route to interact
with West and South Asia, Arabian Peninsula and Africa
through Pakistan. As president Mamnoon Hussain already
termed CPEC “Framework of Regional Connectivity” which
would bolster the activities of trade and business in the whole
region. It is an extra-ordinary project of shared dreams, goals,
destiny, harmony and collective development through the
extension of geographical links. CPEC is basically initiation the
Maritime Silk Road that will link 3-billion people of Europe, Asia
and Africa. From the initial value of $46-billion, China is going
to invest $33.79 billion in energy sector of Pakistan to curb the
energy short-fall in the country which has now become one of
the main reasons of economic descent. $11.19 billion would be
spent in transport sector including 1,240km Karachi-Lahore
motorway which is a six lane high speed corridor and
orchestrating upgrades to public transportation, including
metro and bus service, in six cities, including Lahore Karachi
and Rawalpindi. Modernizing the Karakoram Highway, which
runs 1,300km from Kashgar, the ancient Silk Road crossing in
Sinkiang, all the way into the heart of Punjab, Pakistan’s
biggest province, will also prove critical. $44 million fiber optics
will be installed linking Sinkiang and Rawalpindi. $0.66 billion
will be spent on the up-gradation of Gawadar port to be fully
operational for CPEC. In 2016, China’s aid exceeded the
American spending, which has total $31 billion since 2002.
CPEC is crucial for both, Pakistan and China, countries.
According to Pakistan Economic Survey 2014-15, the trade
between Pakistan and China has increased to $16-billion which
has increased 10% from fiscal year 2009-10 to 2014-15. CPEC
is 3,218km lengthy route that will be completed in the first
phase of this mega project, embodied by highways, railways
and pipelines. The much advertised $46-billion economic route
goes through the stunning Gilgit-Baltistan Province in north of
the country which connects Kashgar in China’s Western
Province Sinkiang to the rest of the world through the Chinese
operated Gwadar Port in South. The mage project has kept the
hopes alive of elevating the economy and eliminating
Pakistan’s energy crisis. It can be said that if CPEC is
materialized according to the plan, it would exceed all the
foreign direct investment in Pakistan since 1970 and would be
equivalent to the 17-percent of 2015’s gross direct product. It
is further estimated that CPEC would produce 700,000 direct
jobs to the youth of Pakistan in different projects during the
period of 2015-30 and add up to2.5 percent points to the
country’s growth rate. CPEC will provide the opportunity of
immense economic ascend not only for Pakistan but will link
China to the markets of Asia, Europe and Africa. Righty percent
of China’s oil comes from Persian Gulf, through Strait of
Malacca, to Shanghai. It takes 2-3months to cover the distance
of more than 16,000km. If Gwadar becomes operational, it
would reduce the distance to 5,000km. All is going well on its
track since its inception in 2013, Chashma-I, Chashma-ll
nuclear power plants in Karachi, Karot hydropower project of
720 megawatt will be generated on Jhehlum River in
Rawalpindi. Out of 21 agreements of energy- including coal,
gas and solar power plants- 14 will be able to produce 10,400
megawatts of energy by March 2018. It is worth mentioning
that Pakistan’s chronic energy short-fall is of 4,500 mega-watts
which is shedding 2-2.5% of GDP annually. So it would bolster
the energy sector by more than double of short-fall. Gilgit-
Baltistan is famous for the exports of fruits like apricot,
cherries and apples. CPEC will be the game changer for the
region’s traders by opening more feasible opportunities to
them. This will provide the local traders to double their profits
in the cost of transportation and increasing their sales.
Currently, Fruits are being sent through air-cargo via Dubia it
would be cheaper and quick if transported by road to China via
Sinkiang. It is believed that tourism industry will flourish,
especially in Gilgit-Baltistan, the northern part of the country.
This part of Pakistan is also known to be mountaineers
paradise as it is the home of five of the eight thousands (peaks
above 8,000 meters) as well as more than 50 mountains over
7,000 meters. It is a home of world’s second highest mountain
K-2 and Nanga Parbat. The project is embodied by all optimism
yet cannot be completely taken without apprehensions and
reservations. The lack of consensus among all the political
parties would be the foremost hurdle towards the
implementation of CPEC project. Failure to address this issue
will jeopardize Pakistan’s trade and economic growth with the
other states of the region. It would, resultantly, slow down the
progress pace of Pakistan. Another prevailing issues coming in
a way of this mega project is a reservations of all provinces
except Punjab that Punjab is getting more than 70-percent of
the infrastructure portion in the development metro and bus
services and refurnishing of existing roads. China Pakistan
Economic Corridor is acceptable for all provinces for collective
progress but other three provinces demands equal share in the
developmental programs under the umbrella of CPEC without
any respect of their size and population, which is an
unjustifiable demand. Resources should be distributed
according to the needs of the people of certain area. Access of
resources would be exploited or wasted by bunch of greedy
people. Indian Premier Modi straight away asserted that CPEC
was “unacceptable” to India. Indian media is showing its anger
by broadcasting controversial and false reports about the
dilapidating situation of law and order in Pakistan which is
threatening towards China’s projects in Pakistan. RAW
increased sabotage activities in Baluchistan. It was for the first
time in history that the Chinese officials warned Pakistan about
RAW’s terror plans against Silk route and also made the
Pakistani high authorities concerned over stumbling security
situation in Baluchistan. India apprehends its encirclement by
China. India, besides the US, dominates the Indian Ocean. But
it feels that in future China is going to establish its hegemony
in the ocean by establishing naval bases for warships in the so-
called policy of “string of pearls”. China has given its official
policy of Maritime Silk Road to trade through oceans. But India
is reluctant to accept this. By materializing CPEC, China would
have direct access to the Indian Ocean which could hamper the
interests of India. India also jealous of the fraternal relations
between China and Pakistan, and cannot see a prosperous
Pakistan. Pakistan needs to strengthen its dilapidated
economy. Already, Pakistan is facing numerous internal and
external challenges. Terrorism, though dwindled after Zarb-a-
Azb under the supervision of Ex-Chief of the Army Staff-
General Raheel Sharif and currently Operational Rad-ul-Fasad
initiated by General Kamar Javed Bajwa, has damaged the
country a lot. Lawlessness in Karachi and Baluchistan has
shaken the confidence of investors. SAARC has proved
ineffective due to the arrogance of India. Poverty, corruption,
unemployment and illiteracy are like venom to our country’s
economy. Our trustworthy neighbor China has shown that by
investing in Pakistan, the cordial relations between the “iron
brothers” are going to be perennial. Chinese investment is
going to be beneficial to Pakistan in curbing not only the
menace of terrorism but also making Pakistan an Asian Tiger in
the long run. Strong economy is more able to resist
lawlessness. With CPEC materialized, Gawadar Port would
become a major trading centre in the world, region will become
industrialized and it would help us to be well-connected with
the energy-rich Central Asia. Instability and anarchy in
Afghanistan is also unfavorable for the progress of Pakistan.
Afghanistan is facing turmoil as the government and Afghan
Taliban is up against each other. Pakistan endeavors to
reconciliation between the Afghan government and Taliban
groups as Pakistan share the “Durand line” border with
Afghanistan which is used for cross-border trade as well. Stable
and peaceful Afghanistan will boast up the trade and prosperity
on the both sides of the fences. Pakistan have been doing
ventures to support the neighboring country by giving 3,000
scholarly admissions to Afghan students in universities,
appreciated by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and in 2001,
Pakistan gave shelter to 5-million Afghan Refugees when US
attached with its horrific zeal in Afghanistan in the wake of an
incidents in 9/11. Baluchistan’s turmoil could be a stumbling
block in the way of the huge Chinese investment. There have
been talk about the change in the route through the Punjab
instead of Baluchistan. Nonetheless, Pakistan has promised Mr.
Xi a 10,000 strong force to protect the Chinese workers. In
January 2015, the Baloch Nationalists attached the electricity
grid sinking 80% of the country, including the capital, into
complete darkness. On May 29th 2015, the united Baloch
Army, a secessionist group, killed 22 Pashtuns in Quetta. China
knows Pakistan is a dangerous country for its workers could be
in jeopardy. Chinese workers have occasionally been killed and
kidnapped in Baluchistan. In March 2015, Baloch separatists
assaulted oil tanker carrying fuel to a Chinese mines
corporation. Pakistan’s previous endeavors to assuage the
angry Baloch people turned futile. The insurgency was
intensifying not mitigating. The present government strived
hard to encourage the moderates such as allowing them to
form a provincial government. For the sake of this project, and
in larger perspective for the sake of sovereignty of the Muslim
nuclear state, federal government mediated among these
insurgent groups and provincial government in dialogues. In
the result, many reservations of localities had, though not
abated completely, come to an end to some extent. The
leaders of these separatist groups were insured that the
economic corridor would bring prosperity, development and job
opportunities for the people of Baluchistan. Xi himself was
optimistic during the visit. In a speech before parliament house
of Pakistan, he admired the sacrifices of Pakistan’s law
enforcement agencies, paramilitary and civil-military forces to
combat terrorism. China and Pakistan committed to “resolutely
crack down on the Eastern Turkestan Movement”, a Xingiang-
separatist militant group reportedly based within Pakistan.
Even then China aspires to invest in Pakistan so that Pakistan
prospers economically. Pakistan’s economic prosperity would
tamp down the terrorist and this would be a positive impact on
China’s troublesome regions of Sinkiang and Tibet where
rebellion keeps on simmering. Instability in Pakistan is not
good for China’s own security, especially for Sinkiang. Andrew
Small, author of the Pakistan-China Axis, points out that it’s
precisely because of these security concerns that China is so
committed to develop the region. “China is certainly not
completely confident that all the projects will be protected, but
they think these security problems one of the main reasons
that it’s so important to move forward for the sake of
Pakistan’s stability,” Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said
“Pakistan is a strong proponent of regional economic
integration for the creation of new job opportunities, business,
industrial production and agricultural growth in the region. He
further stated that Pakistan is the future destination for
investment, trade and production. In highlighting that
importance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, he
emphasized that the regional countries to create awareness
about this foundational stone of collective progress, dispel
misgivings about it and harness resources for the project which
will build the Gwadar Port as regional trans-shipment pivot
supported by the network of roads, railway lines, power plants,
industrial zones, pipelines and fiber optic cables. The former
Premier further stated that Pakistan’s promise as an ascending
nation and lucrative market was being recognized by the world
and global markets.