SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
Currently Pakistan is facing major challenges through terror attacks, economic meltdown, acute energy shortage, unemployment and lawlessness. To make matters worse, the West has been castigating Pakistan for not doing enough in the war on terror despite its enormous sacrifices. China has not only stood up for Pakistan, even in its bleakest moments but let its critics know that it supports Pakistan through thick and thin. With the drawdown of international forces from Afghanistan, China is moving in for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and is venturing to provide Pakistan its rightful place in the current milieu of Afghan reconciliation with the Taliban. In May 2013, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang paid a visit to Pakistan and floated the idea of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This was a unique opportunity for the uplift of Pakistan to resolve its myriad problems and its leaders wholeheartedly welcomed the Chinese Premier’s benevolent proposal. After assuming the mantle of Prime Minister, quitenaturally, Beijing was his first port of call and the CPEC Project was finalized. In order to fast track the project, China and Pakistan have established the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on the Long-term Planning of CPEC, and set up three working groups of energy, transportation infrastructure and comprehensive planning in JCC. Both sides have reached initial consensus on the planning and construction of the Economic Corridor, based on a series of discussions and consultations.
It is unfortunate that certain quarters in Pakistan are having misconceptions regarding the CPEC. Without delving deeper in the details of the project, they are criticizing the planning and raising unwarranted objections. President Xi Jinping was considering a state visit to Pakistan last September but the political turmoil in Pakistan deterred the finalization of the plans. On the eve of the proposed visit, this scribe and three other senior journalists were invited by the Chinese Foreign office to China and received comprehensive briefings regarding the project. It is essential to address the baseless apprehensions regarding the CPEC project. CPEC is not just one highway or road. It is a comprehensive network, which covers entire Pakistan; hence every province will benefit from it. Secondly, it is not merely a thoroughfare but incorporates numerous projects, including Gwadar Port, energy, trade, transportation and infrastructure. These projects have been planned to address the acute energy shortage being faced by the people of Pakistan, enhance economic activity, provide livelihood to the people and augment the communication infrastructure. The purpose of building CPEC is to bring benefits to all the people of the whole Pakistan, including Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. CPEC would open new horizons of prosperity and development in the underdeveloped areas of the Balochistan and other provinces.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
