Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan
CHINA Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is on fast track and appointment of new Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong a political figure but an expert of trade & commerce, economic planning, good governance, project planning/financing, social development, community development and above all interfaith harmony would further enhance its bilateral or trilateral coordination, consultation, cooperation, planning and execution in the country. Its phase-II is going to be implemented very soon which would bring drastic positive changes in the macro-economy of Pakistan. Right from the beginning, the CPEC as flagship project of the One Belt One Road Initiative (BRI) stands for greater regional connectivity and huge integration of socio-economic prosperity but somehow, due to its colossal economic impact especially on Pakistan and rest of the region, India considered it anti-Indian hegemonic and a disguised military alliance for China-Pak strategic expansion in the region.
The two countries, being bearers of regional peace and prosperity, have been advocating CPEC’s real aims, objectives and end goals to regional governments and international mass media alike. But unfortunately, India and its regional allies and global masters did not borrow national narratives of China and Pakistan and persistently indulged into dirt blame game of propaganda, sabotage activities and patronized culmination of 5th hybrid war against Pakistan. The most recent surge in cross infiltration and escalation incidents from Afghanistan’s soil, ambush activities on defence forces of Pakistan in Baluchistan, reformation and reactivation of secretive cells alongside Afghan border, incapacitated make-over and last but not the least, anti-Pakistan political rhetoric of Indian politicians and its rough establishment are the prime examples of Indian impatience, discomfort and fear against easy and smooth sailing of the CPEC in Pakistan because expected economic self-reliance and massive diversification of national economy and qualitative & quantitative improvement in capacity building of productive channels would be strategic fall-out of Indian hegemonic designs in the region.
Indian mass media has been projecting the CPEC as a military alliance. On the contrary, the CPEC has developed a noble concept of commercial diplomacy and sustainable economic development. BRI and CPEC are the projects of 21 century. Both are custodians for the rise of Asian Century. Both supplement the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) vision of regional connectivity and economic integration too. The CPEC is the icon of tremendous socio-economic prosperity. It provides a strong foundation of prosperity, economic stability, sustainability, industrial progression and systemic coaxing of social development and improvement of capacity building system in health, education and housing sectors. The CPEC has become a hypnotic gravity to eliminate poverty, generate new jobs, bring lights by developing more and more energy projects (thermal, coal, hydro, solar, nuclear) in the country, smarter infrastructural development by developing vast interconnected network of roads, super highways, motorways and tunnels and above all brighten prospects of economic recovery in the country especially in post COVID-19 period. Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has rightly tagged economic prosperity of Pakistan with successful implementation and execution of the CPEC projects in the country.
CPEC was designed to reduce physical distances, political barriers and promote blue or maritime economies. The jewel of Pakistan i.e. Gwadar seaport is meant to jell sea routes for easy and smooth supplies of energy resources (oil & gas) and merchandized commodities. CPEC is the mega project amounting to US$60 billion. It would revolutionize industries and humanities. It would achieve greater socio-economic prosperity, regional connectivity and above all shared human survival in the days to come. China has invested around $25 billion dollars in various CPEC projects in the country so far with total financial commitments up to $62 billion. Presently, the work has been going on in various 22 CPEC projects. Currently, 15 energy projects in Pakistan with a total capacity of 11,110 megawatts are planned as a priority, of which, 11 are under construction or in operation with a total capacity of 6,910 MW. Moreover, around 25000 Pakistani citizens are working in various projects of CPEC.
It can work as a catalyst especially in trade promotion, expanding markets, regional activity and socio-economic uplift in Pakistan. CPEC can be termed as a gateway of expanding economic activities and a corridor of prosperity. The wide-range projects in the areas of agriculture, industry and services under CPEC will open a corridor of options for the Pakistani masses. The Corridor is expected to fuel economic growth of Pakistan by adding 2.0% point to its growth between 2016 and 2020; another 1.5 percentage point between 2020 and 2030. It is likely to create 800,000 to 2.0 million new jobs. The length of newly-built or upgraded roads and railways should reach 3871km and 1529km, respectively. Power generated by newly-built sources will reach 19.785 million KW, and length of optical fibre cable will reach 2084km.
China, the 2nd largest economy of the world, has unique model of commercial diplomacy and economic development. Chinese soft power and economic diplomacy have brought many nations closer to each other. China’s peaceful rise has been cited as a role model for the rest of the world and CPEC is the prime example of its commercial diplomacy. Moreover, IMF’s most recently published report (October 15, 2020) has declared surpassing of the Chinese economy (US$ 24.34 trillion) over US economy (US$ 20.87 trillion) in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). So BRI & CPEC upholds its superior commercial diplomacy instead of constant relying on secretive plotting, conspiracy and machination like India. In this connection, Indian government and its jagged establishment should amend its archaic approach of regional domination through military means (Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives & Bangladesh). Real politick does not provide real essence of regional domination rather regional development, connectivity, socio-economic integration and diversification of economies & resources are the way forward.
BRI & CPEC maintains characteristics of “Asian Century” and diminishing of “virtual colonization”. Both reflect new economic model of productivity, peaceful co-existence and human survival. Both showcase new economic thinking through which even political survival may also be attained and subsequently sustained without the support of the West in the days to come. Under flagship project of the BRI & CPEC China sees relationships among states as a partnership not competition. It has no political agenda or military need to be imposed on participating countries. It believes in participatory approach for conflict resolution. Being expert on CPEC and BRI, I personally believe that BRI & CPEC are the best hope to achieve and secure a just and equitable world which is not dominated by a few. Only in such a world will human dignity flourish. China has emerged as super economic power in the world which cares about regional countries and its BRI & CPEC mega projects provide golden opportunity to all the regional countries especially CARS to be connected via extended projects of the CPEC in shape of seaports and railways.
