C for CPEC, Callousness and Controversy

[Icarus]

CPEC and some politicians with new found voices have become a regular feature on national television, the opposing view has not been effectively conveyed by neither the government nor the media. All that's come out against this skullduggery is this one blog entry, about a rational reality that more people need to see for themselves.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, also known as CPEC consists of a proposed plan to establish a network of roads and rail link from the Pakistani deep sea port of Gwadar to the Kashgar Special Economic Zone and then deeper into China. The plan is intended to stimulate growth in other sectors as well and a set of gas/oil pipelines in addition to several industrial zones are set to be built around the CPEC serving as a nucleus.

Back in 2015 when China announced $ 46 Billion dollars in investment to make the CPEC a reality, it was touted throughout the political and social circles of Pakistan as the country’s big break, the game changer, the project that would rewrite Pakistan’s fortunes and transform it into the central hub of trade in the South and Central Asian region.

Only a few months in and far from completion, the project has already fallen victim to political controversy and questions are being raised about the possibility of its completion as the rhetoric around it has started to look eerily familiar to the typical arguments raised in opposition to the Kalabagh dam.

Parochial politicians have taken to the airwaves to voice their dissent over the project, citing changes to the plan to favour the Punjab province and unfortunately, their ill-informed and factually erroneous views have managed to garner a sizable following in the last few weeks.

Firstly, the politician in question have raised concerns about the ‘route’ that the CPEC is supposed to take, speaking of it as if it were a single road whereas it is far from being as such. The CPEC is intended to be a complete network of roads and railways that is supposed to connect and link up with existing facilities to serve as a web of transport infrastructure that permeates the important trade and industrial centres in the country.

Secondly, there have been claims that the eastern route running through Sindh and Punjab does not ‘make sense’ because it is longer. The eastern route is not intended to be a quick commute from point A to be point B, rather it is intended to allow access to large domestic consumptions markets such as the cities of Karachi, Hyderabad, Multan, Faisalabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, etc.

Lastly, at the end of the day, the decision on which route to take will rest with the companies using the CPEC in light of their own business interests. Whereas some who simply want to move their product from point to point may choose the western route, those that wish to collect a local product or distribute their own in the local market may use another route.

In light of these brief points, the educated and well-informed segment of society should assess the validity of the political sloganeering that is being used to stir up a controversy and speak up against this petty political point scoring that has held us back from progressing as a country and threatens to continue doing so.

C for CPEC, Callousness and Controversy | Life as a Pakistani

@Side-Winder @Horus @WAJsal @HRK

 

[Rank]

Sab pagal hain bas PMLN ke Govt sach bool rahe hey.. these ***** become everything related Pakistan to Punjab.... shukar hey samandar nahe lagta Punjab ko warna inhonay route waheen rook dena tha.. begerat tola rullingthe state

 

[Manidabest]

political interest is spoiling a very good project...

 

[VCheng]

Only a few months in and far from completion, the project has already fallen victim to political controversy and questions are being raised about the possibility of its completion as the rhetoric around it has started to look eerily familiar to the typical arguments raised in opposition to the Kalabagh dam.

Is anybody surprised by this turn of events? Really?

What is happening in entirely predictable and to be expected, Sir. The reality of CPEC will be very different than the hype presently being peddled.

 

[Icarus]

Sab pagal hain bas PMLN ke Govt sach bool rahe hey.. these ***** become everything related Pakistan to Punjab.... shukar hey samandar nahe lagta Punjab ko warna inhonay route waheen rook dena tha.. begerat tola rullingthe state

But thats the whole point, route wahan nahi ruk raha.

Is anybody surprised by this turn of events? Really?

What is happening in entirely predictable and to be expected, Sir. The reality of CPEC will be very different than the hype presently being peddled.

I can't say I am surprised but I had perhaps deluded myself into thinking this fractured wreck we call a country could finally agree on something. I don't get Pakistan sometimes, if the people are so sick of the Federation, why don't they just call for a referendum and cede? But when you voice that alternative, all of a sudden the most bitter critic of the federation becomes enraged and defends the federation with such vigour that he himself had declared was fleecing his people merely minutes ago. Its beyond rationality.

 

[Sliver]

IMO - The eastern route that includes most of the economically strong cities sounds more realistic plan. It will increase the overall economic productivity when compared to putting a road through less economically active regions.
The attempt to move it based on politics is not a good move, economics and Politics dont always go hand in hand

 

[Kompromat]

PTI is playing cock block here on the CPEC issue. KP is getting a share of every major project. The so called nationalists want to deprive the biggest province, the biggest domestic economy and the biggest industrial hub from the biggest project in nation's history. This is stupid at best. Also the eastern alignment serves us as a military deterrent. By placing a major Chinese, Pakistani asset within 100km of Indian border you are creating a strategic line in the sand.

In an event of a conflict the Indians would think a 100 times before attacking the Lines of Communication which serve billions of dollars worth of trade interests to not only Pakistan but China and other CPEC partner states. The only mission of PTI here is to look as if they are "doing opposition". They have no solid argument to hide the fact that they are merely trying to deny PMLN the 'credit' that comes with completing CPEC which they fear might translate into vote bank in 2018 elections. It also allows Imran Khan and PK to tap into the vote bank of far left ultra nationalists associated to ANP. This of course is being done without any regard for the project that might change Pakistan as a state for the better.

As Iqbal said : "The Nations are born in the hearts of poets, they however wither and die at the hands of the politicians".

@Icarus @Irfan Baloch @Hyperion @Oscar

 

[Sliver]

They have no solid argument to hide the fact that they are merely trying to deny PMLN the 'credit' that comes with completing CPEC which they fear might translate into vote bank in 2018 elections. It also allows Imran Khan and PK to tap into the vote bank of far left ultra nationalists associated to ANP. This of course is being done without any regard for the project that might change Pakistan as a state for the better.

That probably is a very plausible explanation. And I agree that being closer to the Indian border will make it a worthwhile "strategic depth" replacement as the Chinese will get a reason to retaliate if any skirmish would affect its economic activity. It might also act as a deterrent with India getting partial access to the economic artery and thus increasing the stakes for all three players (and hence less rhetoric of war and more economic activity for all) but that too much to ask for in the next 30 years atleast (IMO).

CPEC will probably be the mainstay of Pakistan's economy for the foreseeable future if used well. it can be the base from which more growth can be achieved and it can be the base from which a lot of poverty reduction can happen.

 

[Kompromat]

CPEC has been listed as a 'special project'. Which means it holds the same value as our nuclear program did once. It will be completed, however we would have to deal with these dumwits we elected to serve us.

That probably is a very plausible explanation. And I agree that being closer to the Indian border will make it a worthwhile "strategic depth" replacement as the Chinese will get a reason to retaliate if any skirmish would affect its economic activity. It might also act as a deterrent with India getting partial access to the economic artery and thus increasing the stakes for all three players (and hence less rhetoric of war and more economic activity for all) but that too much to ask for in the next 30 years atleast (IMO).

CPEC will probably be the mainstay of Pakistan's economy for the foreseeable future if used well. it can be the base from which more growth can be achieved and it can be the base from which a lot of poverty reduction can happen.

 

[Icarus]

PTI is playing cock block here on the CPEC issue. KP is getting a share of every major project. The so called nationalists want to deprive the biggest province, the biggest domestic economy and the biggest industrial hub from the biggest project in nation's history. This is stupid at best. Also the eastern alignment serves us as a military deterrent. By placing a major Chinese, Pakistani asset within 100km of Indian border you are creating a strategic line in the sand.

In an event of a conflict the Indians would think a 100 times before attacking the Lines of Communication which serve billions of dollars worth of trade interests to not only Pakistan but China and other CPEC partner states. The only mission of PTI here is to look as if they are "doing opposition". They have no solid argument to hide the fact that they are merely trying to deny PMLN the 'credit' that comes with completing CPEC which they fear might translate into vote bank in 2018 elections. It also allows Imran Khan and PK to tap into the vote bank of far left ultra nationalists associated to ANP. This of course is being done without any regard for the project that might change Pakistan as a state for the better.

As Iqbal said : "The Nations are born in the hearts of poets, they however wither and die at the hands of the politicians".

@Icarus @Irfan Baloch @Hyperion @Oscar

That's a very fair analysis I must say, as ever PTI's role in this issue is one not befitting a national party that claims to represent the interests of the educated middle class. They are making this an issue of ego more than one of economics, as long as there is a western route being built, they have no rationale in demanding that it be the sole route. They are trying to either block the project entirely or at least monopolize it. A cheap tactic at best which harms the interests of the country as a whole.

CPEC has been listed as a 'special project'. Which means it holds the same value as our nuclear program did once. It will be completed, however we would have to deal with these dumwits we elected to serve us.

Kalabagh Dam also remained a project of the highest priority for over two decades before being relegated to number 14. I won't doubt our capacity to shoot ourselves in the foot.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Truck traffic stalls , all traffic on highways , so if there are 3 options to move good it will be beneficial

The OFFICALs have openly stated in video there will be 3 Routes to move goods

 

[Kompromat]

PTI is in a defeatist mode. As per IK's logic Supporting CPEC = Supporting PMLN. That is disastrous.

That's a very fair analysis I must say, as ever PTI's role in this issue is one not befitting a national party that claims to represent the interests of the educated middle class. They are making this an issue of ego more than one of economics, as long as there is a western route being built, they have no rationale in demanding that it be the sole route. They are trying to either block the project entirely or at least monopolize it. A cheap tactic at best which harms the interests of the country as a whole.


Kalabagh Dam also remained a project of the highest priority for over two decades before being relegated to number 14. I won't doubt our capacity to shoot ourselves in the foot.

 

[Icarus]

PTI is in a defeatist mode. As per IK's logic Supporting CPEC = Supporting PMLN. That is disastrous.

Indeed, as a national leader, he still has some way to go before he can start identifying issues for what they are actually worth. There is some consolation in knowing that this is Chinese money though and they never make a bad investment, the Chinese will complete this project even if they have to build a road that is suspended over the whole country.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Thank you China for the CPEC VISIONARY cooperation

The revolutionary project

China & Pakistan

Not forgetting contribution by Musharaf for Gwadar and projects which were pro Baluchistan





People like diesel are anti Pakistan

 

[Sugarcane]

Indeed, as a national leader, he still has some way to go before he can start identifying issues for what they are actually worth. There is some consolation in knowing that this is Chinese money though and they never make a bad investment, the Chinese will complete this project even if they have to build a road that is suspended over the whole country.

I don't think IK even deserve to be called leader let alone national leader. Thanks God he was not able to win otherwise would still have been trying to negotiate with TTP on constitution avenue.