CONTRARY to the propaganda campaign unleashed by its critics that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would add to the crippling debt burden of Pakistan, figures and facts released by Chinese Foreign Ministry say the country received direct investment of $ 25 billion since launch of the historic initiative seven years ago. During his regular briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin noted that many projects have been started or completed under CPEC and these have enhanced infrastructure and electricity supply in the country and created more than 70,000 direct positions and contributed 1 to 2 percentage points of the country’s GDP growth.
The statement of the Chinese spokesperson, which is based on ground realities, should serve as an eye-opener for those who are influenced by the foreign propaganda against CPEC. In fact, the propaganda is aimed at scuttling Pakistan’s accelerated march forward on the road to economic progress and prosperity as resolution of fundamental problems of the country through CPEC has already started paying dividends. Thanks to the early harvest phase of the initiative, under which several crucial energy projects have been completed on a priority basis, Pakistan is today free of the curse of load-shedding induced by low generation capacity. Now the Government is giving incentives to the industry to consume more power at half the rate of existing tariff which would result in more industrial production and additional employment generation. Infrastructure development is also helpful in improving the overall environment for socio-economic development and introduction of projects like Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) in Lahore, Pakistan’s first electric-powered public transport venture, means movement towards cleaner environment and provision of decent travel facilities to the masses. The focus on infrastructure development would not only give a boost to economic activities in the country but also to the regional connectivity, leading to promotion of trade and investment. It is because of this that the spokesperson pointed out that Afghanistan was importing food and other essential items through the Gwadar Port which is confirmation of the claims that CPEC had not only promoted development in the two countries but also helped regional connectivity and prosperity. It is hoped that the second phase of the CPEC, which also includes plans for modernization of Pakistan Railways, would bring more dividends to the people of Pakistan.
