It seems that Indian media outlets and western powers along with their so-called “pseudo puppets” are once again “purposefully” very active in propagating against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Ironically, even “political wings” of many foreign missions in the country are trying to “mapping” the route of the CPEC in Gwadar and Gilgit-Baltistan regions.
Their visits got tremendous “momentum” after the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) during the recently concluded G20 in New Delhi and have already started a new debate in the country about the fate of CPEC which is not a good omen.
Despite all “false” and “fake” propaganda, the CPEC is moving forward to bring “economic prosperity”, stability and sustainability in the country. According to the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives, China and Pakistan are committed to “expanding” the scope of the CPEC to include new areas of cooperation and categorically “rejected” the propaganda that China does not want to expand the scope of the CPEC.
It termed the published story in the local media and India as “fabricated”, “factually” “incorrect”, and had “misleading” information. It upheld that the CPEC projects have already been implemented and are currently ongoing in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the coastal areas producing “substantial” dividends for the socio-economic uplift of the local population and country alike.
There is no “ambiguity” that areas such as water resources management, climate change and tourism were already part of the CPEC long-term Plan and both sides agreed during the deliberations before the 11th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) to work out the detailed contours of these projects in upcoming sessions of respective Joint Working Groups (JWGs).
In this regard, it is pertinent to mention that the JWGs are technical bodies comprising experts from both sides, who are responsible for conceiving and evaluating project proposals in their respective areas. Therefore, sponsored media speculations and manipulating tactics do not have any “creditability” and “relevance”.
Technically speaking, it holds the goals and objectives of the CPEC Long-Term Plan which is indeed based on standard procedure of the approval of CPEC projects, ensuring all careful consideration of all proposals.
In addition to this, China and Pakistan have a time-tested friendship, and CPEC has greatly already enhanced Pakistan’s energy, logistical and physical infrastructure capabilities and hopefully CPEC Phase-II will further “enhance” its capacity building mechanism in terms of trans-regional connectivity, infrastructure development, qualitative industrialization, agriculture development and last but not the least, social development in the country. It is a good omen that the benefits of CPEC are widely distributed throughout Pakistan. There is no regional or provincial prejudice in this regard.
Diplomatic sources and regional experts are still “confident” that both sides are fully resolved to harness the investment in infrastructure for economic growth, particularly in export-oriented industries, agriculture productivity, and natural resource management, all while enhancing partnerships in addressing the concerns of climate change and sustainable development.
However, there is an urgent need to reaffirm the scope, utility, productivity and strategic importance of the CPEC in the country through “integrated efforts” mitigating the spill-over repercussions of the “Indian lobby”, “western powers” ill intentions and “paid-agents” in the country. Role of professional experts and think tanks is paramount in this regard.
Critical analysis unearthed that the media “hybrid war” against CPEC has had been staged and schemed on the “arrival” of new Chinese Ambassador “H.E. Jiang Zaidong” presenting dismal picture of the CPEC and bilateral relations between two iron-clad friends. Moreover, incidents of deadly terrorist attacks in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, constant infiltration and intensified and undiscriminating firings from the soil of Afghanistan and last but not the least sudden activation of the TTP and other franchises are now posing threats to even CPEC projects in the country all indicate start of new “End Game” in the region targeting CPEC and containing Pak-China relations.
The two countries are jointly working to protect environment and climate change priorities under the flagship project of CPEC in the country. Many news stories have been published about the alleged usage of inferior quality coal in the CPEC power plants spreading numerous health hazards and polluting the environment and bio-diversity in the country.
On the contrary, all coal-fired power plants built by Chinese companies in Pakistan have been consistently using high-quality coal imported from other countries. Moreover, all the coal-fired plants under the CPEC have advanced technologies and operational mechanisms which cannot run on low-quality coal like a fighter jet cannot start and run on regular fuel. Thus all these subsidized news stories are intentionally planted to allege CPEC energy projects harming the environment, public health, bio-diversity and agriculture yields in the country.
It seems that the “schemers” of these news items tried to play down on the energy projects of CPEC even because of the upcoming COP28 in the UAE, raising doubts of the pledged “greening” of CPEC and BRI alike in the eyes of international audience and organizations.
In summary, there is an urgent need of counterproductive “media diplomacy/campaign” trying to remove all doubts and propagandas against the CPEC and Pak-China ties.
It is imperative to introduce new “re-branding” of the CPEC, especially the Phase-II in the country highlighting the scope and importance of its different projects.
It is high time to resolve all pending issues relating to “safety & security” of the Chinese personnel and CPEC projects in the country, especially in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Gwadar. The issue of “deferred payments” of the Chinese private companies may also be amicably settled.
Obviously, the regional “landscape” of “geopolitics” is going to be merged with global geo-strategic power politics which must be tackled with dialogue, diplomacy, development and determination.
Activation of many foreign missions in the country is a “wake-up call” for the Foreign Office and policy makers of both sides which should be controlled through close liaison and political consultations.
Moreover, announcement of new trans-regional corridors and middle corridors are “potential risks” to CPEC and BRI which need to be thoroughly studied and countered.
It is vital to introduce a new financial, security and economic ties model to protect the mutually agreed vested interests pertaining to the CPEC and BRI. In this regard, the policy makers of Pakistan should avail the golden opportunity from the upcoming 3rd BRI forum for International Cooperation and should showcase the regional and trans-regional strategic importance of CPEC seeking more and more FDIs in the country.
The CPEC Phase-II should introduce green energy mix (solar, wind, green/blue hydrogen power generation), lithium & sand batteries projects, hybrid cropping of rice, wheat, digitalization, artificial intelligence, building & completion of special free economic zones, de-desertification massive drive in the desert areas, qualitative industrialization, nuclear & solar power plants and last but not the least, mining & metal exploitation in the country. The policy makers should avoid any drastic change in their policies, priorities and game plans.
