Anjum Gul
It has been five years, a quirky and vigorous project of an assertive
development plan started in Pakistan in 2014. What I am talking about is China
Pakistan Economic Corridor most commonly known as CPEC. It is scheduled to be
completed in 2030; it will take 15 years for completion. First five years are
gone. First phase of this project is successfully accomplished. It ended up on
completion of several infrastructure and energy projects. Everybody knows that
no development project can be achieved without taking these two sectors into
consideration. So is the case with economic growth. Today, Pakistan is on the
way to accelerated economic growth, and I can say that for sure because after
five years when first phase of this development project is consummated, the
second phase is started in continuation. This is a splendid achievement of the
government and Pakistan as a country and a nation. It was hard to believe to
happen any such thing in Pakistan just few years before.
Second phase is drafted to work on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) within
Pakistan. Pakistan Army played a pivotal role to ensure security for this mega
development project as well. It is anticipated to open up new horizons for
economic growth in Pakistan. It is also expected to come up with more pressing
and evident changes in a positive sense. Every single person in the country is
trying to relate oneself with the benefits and outcomes of CPEC. But there is a
dire need to understand the nature of collective benefit for the state and for
the nation. Unfortunately, nationalism has been lacking most of the times
whenever it is needed. Nationalism has always been seeing only during war times
or facing threats from foreign elements. But when it comes to peace time and
development processes “nationalism” becomes irrelevant to the nation.People from
every walk of life focus only on their respective vested interests. CPEC has
come up with multiple opportunities and diversified goals. Therefore, the nation
needs to be united till the end of this project to get most out of it.
Rashakai Economic Zone (KP), China Special Economic Zone Dhabeji (Sindh), Bostan
Industrial Zone (Balochistan), Allama Iqbal Industrial City (Faisalabad,
Punjab), ICT Model Industrial Zone, (Islamabad, Capital Territory), Development
of Industrial Park on Pakistan Steel Mills Land at Port Qasim near Karachi,
Special Economic Zone (Mirpur, AJK), Mohmand Marble City (FATA-KP), and
Moqpondass SEZ (Gilgit-Baltistan). Aforementioned are nine Special Economic
Zones (SEZs) planned to be established all over Pakistan. A number of industries
will be built such as fruit processing, food, packaging, textile stitching,
knitting, agriculture machinery, pharmaceutical, motor bikes assembly, chromite,
cooking oil, ceramic industries, ice and cold storage, electric appliances,
steel, auto and allied, chemical, marble/ granite, iron ore processing, steel
industry, mineral processing unit, and leather industry.Overall, all the
industrial projects are covered which could be possible in a transitional
economy. Some of the projects are started and some of them need more planning
and will be completed later on. It is very important to spread the word among
masses. Magnitude of foreign investment is also rising since 2010. But it is
constantly increasing with the start of CPEC in 2014.
Pakistan Armed Forces have always been remarkable in ensuring peace and security
in the country. Once more they have an assertive stance on it.Concrete measures
are taken in this regard. Special Security Forces are established for the
provision of secure environment. Civil-military connectivity is quite evident in
nation-building this time, which is an empirical evidence that shows inevitable
transformation of Pakistan.