Daily Times

A briefing on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will help remove misperceptions. As Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said, the CPEC was not just the name of a road or a route; it was a portfolio of projects having a complete framework. The CPEC is an umbrella that includes projects of energy, industry, the Gwadar port and infrastructure. The corridor projects will focus on the economic progress of the entire region as it will help boost trade and improve connectivity. Nawaz Sharif has expressed his concern about foreign forces trying to sabotage CPEC projects. It is not fiction but reality that has been admitted by a former Indian diplomat. M K Bhadrakumar recently wrote an article under the title ‘Foreign devils on the Silk Road to Gwadar’ that it is a positive indication that a briefing on the CPEC was attended by representative heads of political parties who shared a joint resolve for moves to strengthen Pakistan’s economy and society.
The visit to Pakistan by Chinese President Xi Jinping served to highlight the growing strength of the Pak-China relationship as well as problems Pakistan faces and is making hectic efforts to meet the challenges. One of the best options, namely investment in Pakistan by friendly countries, has been offered by China, in the shape of $ 46 billion in investment. Hopefully, with the help of China, Pakistan will be able to get out of many of its problems and resolve crises that directly impact and are a source of hardship to the people. The money will be spent on power projects, as well as on infrastructure for the CPEC. The vision is that China makes Pakistan a more attractive investment destination and that the two countries are tied together with a new zeal for natural cooperation for development and progress in multiple areas including defence, which happens to be the origin of the Pak-China relationship. With optimism, positive attitudes and determination, Pakistan-China cooperation will achieve the desired objectives on the road to development.
The shared objective of regional connectivity, revival of the old silk route and the building of the CPEC is expected to solve many problems, strengthen prospects of peace and security and improve the socio-economic level and status of the people. It is encouraging that both the US and China are playing an important role in the economic uplift of Pakistan. India should look at this development positively. The Indian media should correct its perceptions about Pakistan and try to understand that economically strong Pakistan will assure peace and stability in the region. All out efforts are required to fight terrorists and regressive trends. Counter-terrorism focus should be a common denominater of countries looking for peace, stability and socio-economic development. It requires new organisational structures, strategies, other resources and cooperation among countries to make all that possible. Development support that China provides for Pakistan in Balochistan cannot be worked out in an environment of violence and increasing lawlessness due to multiple insurgencies.
Pakistan’s India-specific policies are understandable as long as India continues hostilities against the state and the people of Pakistan. China and Pakistan stand united against terrorism and for the welfare of people everywhere. It would be in the interest of peace in the region if India makes it possible to shun violence. It is of vital importance to respect China’s desire to steer clear of political complications in the region that inhibited initiatives of investing for development. China’s “pivot to Asia” strategy is the inspiration behind its decision to invest in Pakistan. This investment and initiative will help empower nuclear-armed Pakistan.
For effective implementation of China’s commitment to Pakistan’s development it would be essential, as a first step, to get rid of political complications, especially, the unnecessary controversy about changes made in the route of the CPEC. This is an opportunity that our politicians should welcome as it augurs well for the people of Pakistan without discrimination. It is an enormous challenge for federal and provincial governments to understand tasks to be accomplished related to implementation of the projects. One can imagine the beauty of China’s commitment to Pakistan’s strategic development by letting one’s fancy roam and visualise Kashgar in western China linked with Gwadar port through networks of communication comprising a world class seaport, commercial sea lanes, an airport, highways, railways, fibre optic cables and oil and gas pipelines. It is a challenging, gigantic task. No doubt our energy sector’s requirements are most urgent.
The creation of a special security division and the establishment of a strong new force for the security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan for CPEC projects would be a welcome step. Extending this idea and measure further it will be good for the people of China and Pakistan to institute people-to-people exchange visits and programmes to promote Chinese studies, particularly the language. Learning Chinese is the need of the time. This need was realised by educational institutions in the US, Canada, Australia and European countries many years ago.
Wars have not solved any problems nor reduced tension. Misperceptions and prejudices leading to violence, hegemony and destruction have divided the people and given them labels that are enough to fuel fury and hate. What if this scenario could be changed to create a new world order through cooperation for peace and stability, and welfare of humanity without discrimination? For once world leaders need to shun their misplaced priorities for the sake of peace and development, and brighter future for the next generations at least.
The debate on development alternatives has passed through many interesting and significant stages. The major challenge before political leaders and policy makers is to achieve economic progress while preserving the essential cultural and social elements of the life of the people. Achieving all that simultaneously requires very astute political leadership, which is in full control of sources of political power and can manage the social and political disturbances that such shifts in policy invariably create.
In most countries, the western model has led to over-development in material terms (as reflected in overconsumption and waste), and underdevelopment in social terms (as reflected in social alienation and rising violence).

The writer is a former director, National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), a political analyst, public policy expert and an author