Daily Times

Karachi: Though the mega projects associated with the China Pakistan economic Corridor CPEC entail huge national and international economic benefits but mysteries partially surrounding the projects’ environment are not only confusing masses but experts also remain speechless. This kind of grey area leaves room for those who spew negative propaganda against the projects of national importance.

To know about CPEC and its expected fruits for commoners, Daily Times interviewed Colonel Retired F. Maqbool Afridi, Member of CPEC Committee of FPCCI and an expert on Gwadar, CPEC affairs.

The CPEC has now become the project of over $53 billion with the addition of $8 billion recently sanctioned but not everything is clear, Afridi observed saying that transparency was the much needed factor in order to better judge the outcome of this whole investment.

“We do not know where the $8 billion would be spent. It would be in the larger interest of the future generation that everything should be in black and white”, Col. Afridi said.

Responding to a question about the biggest threat to CPEC and Chinese role, Afridi said that lack of good governance and transparency will be great threat to the existence of the CPEC. He dispelled the impression of Chinese being “East India Company”. Government will also have to address the conception that all the major projects are being diverted to Punjab province instead of equal distribution, he opined.

Afridi even proposed to set up “Board of Professional” to run the affairs of the mega projects. “The board should consist of professionals rather than politicians and they should interact with Chinese”, he said adding that in case of change of government the ongoing development may be negatively impacted but presence of board will be a best long term remedy, added.

Responding about the benefits, especially for the commoners, he said that initiation of the project will open flood gates of employments which would elevate the living standards of the poor of this country. Huge networks of roads, Mass Transit Trains in every provinces, nine economic zones including one in FATA and number of power projects would be enough to change the fate of nation. Reply to a question about the property prices in Gwadar , he said the prices of property have increased by almost 10 fold. With the onset of development work the serious investors are also coming in large number that shows that they are much confident, he noted.

Pakistan as a location is gift of Allah, by the development of the Gwadar port the country, besides other regional countries, could be linked with the Kashgar where Chinese are heavily investing, to the tune of around $700 billion, for the economic uplift of the area, Afridi contented.

He stressed for the development of Gwadar port in the first place which would lead to the development of other sub-sectors as the economic activity takes place. There would be around 100 five and even seven star hotels as the Gwadar would turned into international city. Chinese want 5 to 10 years for the development work and outcome will be of 30 years of work, he added.

He also called for the assuring “secured environment” instead of deployment of military forces in large number. Pakistani industrialist have long been fearing that the Chinese inflow will push them out of business in their own country but to counter incomers they did not do anything. “They were not deterred by anyone. Why our industries remained underdeveloped. Why our industrialists remains insensitive to the need of setting up industries”, he questioned.

Col. Afridi offered to give presentations to media persons as some of “Self-styled Socrates” were busing in spreading negative impression of the projects.