Pakistan China friendship is stronger than Himalayas and deeper than Pacific Ocean, its fragrance spreads all over the world; it is among people to people, in the hearts, minds, and sentiments of the people of both the countries. It is time tested, all weather, long lasted, historical, unique and visionary. Pakistanis consider China as their brother, supporter, trustworthy, reliable and credible friend. Pakistan China friendship is so deep rooted that it is narrated in stories told by mothers to their children, it is told to students in schools, colleges and universities, it is found in poetry and music, it is found in scholars’ articles and in their research. CPEC is another milestone in the history of Pakistan and China Friendship journey.
On April 20, 2015, Pakistan and China signed a landmark agreement to start work on a project worth US$46 billion known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project aimed to connect Pakistani seaport of Gwadar, located on the Baluchistan coast of the Arabian Sea, with the Chinese city of Kashgar, located in north-western region of Xinjiang. It is CPEC and People-to-People Contacts through a network of rail, roads and oil and gas pipelines. The project is a continuation of Pakistani and the Chinese policies, pursued over the last decade, to expand and deepen traditional Pakistan-China friendship, and economic and trade relations. It is meant to materialize China’s initiatives for promoting physical and commercial connectivity with the neighboring countries to achieve the goal of greater regional integration in Asia.
Pakistan and China are going to celebrate ten years anniversary of CPEC in the month of July,2023. CPEC created 236,000 new jobs for Pakistani youth and much more is expected till its competition. On this historical occasion Pakistani Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a meeting to review the progress made on CPEC projects and issued directives to celebrate the significant economic progress in underdeveloped areas of Pakistan as a result of CPEC.
CPEC, an important part of Built and Road Initiative (BRI), has been playing a very important and significant role in strengthening and modernizing infrastructure in Pakistan that has also pushed the economic development in the city. Launched in 2013, China Pakistan Economic Corridor is linking Gwadar port in Southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region which highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation. CPEC has achieved so many success stories that are being appreciated in Pakistan and China as it has worked as per the aspirations of people and government on both sides. Besides governments of both the countries, credit also goes to the workers from Pakistan and China who have worked day and night, dedicated their lives for the progress and prosperity of the people of both the countries and have written new stories of friendship, brotherhood and excellent relations between Pakistan and China. CPEC is one of the major sources of attraction for investment. The investment helped various Pakistani sectors to re-develop and play their role in the economic growth of the country that cultivated huge benefits for the local population. The investment of China was without any kind of terms and conditions and without any pressure. This unconditional and sincere investment helped Pakistan work smoothly on CPEC projects so the projects got completed in the first phase of CPEC. Despite huge propaganda against CPEC and Pakistan China friendship a huge majority of Pakistani people supports and admires it. All political and religious parties are supporter of this friendship. The News Lark and I, Dr. Syed Mehboob as Senior Research Editor of it, and as an analyst proud that I am part of Pakistan China Friendship and did so many researches on Pakistan China Friendship, Chinese history of development and role of its visionary leadership. I wish my name is written in the history of Pakistan China Friendship.
All the leaders, PMs and head of the state including Pakistan Armed Forces Chief fully supported this project. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, Imran Khan, General Raheel Sharif, General Qamar Bajwa and now Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Hafiz General Asim Muneer all support Pakistan China friendship and CPEC project.
The 10 years celebration of CPEC is an event of joy and happiness for the people of Pakistan and in this regard number of events were organized and would be further organized in coming days. The University of Sargodha celebrated a week of Pakistan China Friendship in which students of the university, its faculty members, other staff and others participated enthusiastically. The celebrations were jointly organized by the Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS), Confucius Institute UoS Department of Politics and International Relations, and Institute of Arts and Design. The Chief Guest of the event was the Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Qaiser Abbas. The VC highlighted the importance of CPEC and appreciated the students who participated enthusiastically and made the event successful. Dr. Fazal ur Rehman, the Director of Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS), stressed the significance of raising awareness among students about the importance of Pakistan and China relations.
Time Line of CPEC
·2013 The CPEC was launched to promote connectivity
·2015 “1+4” cooperation structure with the CPEC at the center and The Gwadar Port, energy, transportation, infrastructure, and Industrial cooperation: -
·Orient Investment in Pakistan US$ 25.4 billion
·Revenue US$ 17.55 billion Tax: US$ 2.12 bn
·Jobs Created: 236,000
·Electricity Capacity increased 6,000 megawatts
·New Express Way: 510 Kilometers
·New national core transmission line: 886 kilometers
·“1+4 “Cooperation Structure
Became fully operational: November,2016
Boost a Multi- purpose terminal with three 20,000 metric ton berths and a 140,000 sq meters storage yards
Aiming to be a logistic hub and industrial hub.
§Energy providing nearly one third of Pakistan electricity
§Sahiwal Coal Power Plant: One of the largest Eco-friendly coal power plants in Pakistan. Completed June 2017. Two fully functional 660 megawatts coal fired supercritical units
§Annual power output 9 billion kilowatts hour
§Karot Hydro power Project
§CPEC first hydropower project completed in June, 2022
Installed Capacity: 720 MW
Sukkur Multan Motorway
CPEC’s largest transportation infrastructure project
Completed in November, 2019
Length: 392 km Designated Speed: 120 KPh Total Investment US$ 2.89 billion
§Rashakai Special Economic Zone: Ground Breaking May ,2021
§CPEC’s First Industrial Park: Planned Area 406.7 hectares
§To Bring in Industries Mechanical Equipment
Home appliances
Food Processing
To Create: 200,000 Jobs
Under the ten years celebrations, several events are being organized by the CPEC Secretariat in collaboration with the Planning Ministry, which include International Conference, academic sessions, cultural shows and others across the country and others across the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan Embassy Beijing, CPEC Secretariat will participate in programme. Programme for 5th July,2023 is to include participation of chief ministers. Three to five minutes videos on sectoral achievements would be made by ministries of Energy, communication, National High Way, Aviation, Board of Investment, Government of Baluchistan, Gwadar Development Authority, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Higher Education Commission. An exhibition will be held in coordination with NDRC by Pakistan Mission in Beijing showcase achievements of CPEC by Chinese Companies and government agencies. Board of Investment is organizing a business conference.
There is a need to highlight CPEC’s importance at intellectual, business communities, educational institutes, media and other segments of societies and to counter the negative propaganda.