CPEC: A Road towards Peace,
stability and Prosperity
Pakistan-China is progressing fast, in the coming years Pakistan could be seen
as economically stable and more secure state.
Currently, the china Pakistan economic corridor has been the most fervent
subject these days. Basically CPEC which is known as the project of multiple
roads of one corridor has its major alignments with Pakistan through western,
eastern and central fronts that are connected through highways and railways.
However, western alignment is the most important one than others because it has
opened the door of prosperity and development in Baluchistan and KPK, because
Chinese investors will establish their manufacturing units on this route which
would increase the employment opportunities in these remote areas.
Moreover, this one belt one road project, aims to connect gawadar port in
southwestern Pakistan to the china’s southwestern autonomous xinjiang region,
providing a network of highways, railways, and pipelines to transport oil and
gas. As Pakistan is located at the cross roads of South Asia therefore this
advantage would greatly benefit china through the reduction of tariffs and fees
on the Chinese freight that passes through this route.
During his visit to Pakistan, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in May 2013, proposed
that the CPEC will act as a bridge for the new Maritime Silk Route that foresees
linking three billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe.
Furthermore, CPEC is beneficial for both Pakistan and china and could be seen as
a major development between the two countries. The China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC) will bring about $70 billion annual revenue in the form of
transit fee. This amount of money can be used to fund so many projects in
Pakistan for power generation and for also completing the Pakistan-Iran Gas
pipeline. Besides, free network of highways, free power projects, convenient
connectivity between all the provinces could be thought as the way to deal with
the problems of unemployment.
Presently, a much heated debate over china and Pakistan’s new economic
cooperation corridor has gained attention to a greater extent around every
corner of the world. CPEC is something believed to be a threat by some of the
western states, Europe, specifically United States and India. As china is an
emerging economy and the fact that the paradigm of power has been shifting from
west to east, one can easily understand that the world would no longer remain
uni-polar yet soon it would become bi-polar due to coming forth sino-power.
Since china is an emerging power, united states and india have left no strategy
to detract Pakistan to join the joint venture of china. Both of these countries
are using their ultimate efforts to restrain the project because the success of
this venture will undermine the power of India.
Despite all the obstacle, the importance of CPEC is beyond the imagination,
because Gawadar to kashgar route will not only decrease the distance between
china and the resourceful middle east yet would also provide a secure way of oil
to china. Chinese government however is investing $46 billion in order to
continue the trade through gawadar port which is located in the forefront of
Strait of Hormuz which is the pathway of $40 trillion trade in a year; moreover
it will decrease the shipping cost of china to Middle East and other developing
and African countries.
Although, CPEC aims to address the interests of both Pakistan and china,
Pakistan needs to employ full security structure in which Pakistan army however
is playing a positive and a much responsible role. Pakistan should invest to a
greater extent in order to face the threats from the neighboring countries
especially from India.
Currently, Pakistan army’s Chief General Qamar Jawaid Bajwa has expressed a hope
that the timely completion of this project would usher in a new era of
development in the region. Further he said the development in the Baluchistan
area would ensure peace and stability in the country which our enemies don’t
want.
Finally, the project not only motivates and enhance Pakistan’s economic
infrastructure but also boosts all other areas of development from agriculture
to manufacture, societal to education, employment and security. Besides the
criticism from its neighbors Pakistan and china are progressing fast and in the
coming years Pakistan could be seen as economically more stable and secure state
which its foes could not withstand.