Politicians hit out at 'unfair' Pakistan-China Economic Corridor

[Devil Soul]

Politicians hit out at 'unfair' Pakistan-China Economic Corridor
By Qamar Zaman / Reuters
Published: April 22, 2015

ISLAMABAD: Politicians complained on Wednesday that a plan for projects worth $46 billion to be built with Chinese funding has been unfairly changed to the disadvantage of provinces.

Speaking at a press conference, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed reservations on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He said the provinces were not taken on board to build the economic corridor. Albeit welcoming all the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with the Chinese government, Qureshi said only one chief minister was present when the deals were agreed upon.

Read: Trade corridor tops Chinese investment bonanza

The plan, launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pakistan on Monday, involves energy and infrastructure projects linking the neighbours’ economies and creating an “economic corridor” between Gwadar port and China’s western Xinjiang region.

“Only CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif was present when the MoUs were signed,” Quresh said.

He added that that all political parties should have been taken on board when the deals were finalised. Further, he said the plan to build the corridor was not one party’s achievement but the project roots back to General Pervez Musharraf’s rule.

Read: China’s security as important as Pakistan’s, Nawaz tells Chinese president

“The plan to build the economic corridor spans multiple governments,” Qureshi said. “Talks about the project were taking place when I was serving as foreign minister in the Pakistan Peoples Party government and even during Musharraf’s regime.”

Qureshi said that even though he cannot speak on behalf of the Balochistan government, he is aware that the Balochistan CM Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was also not consulted over the project.

Balochistan politicians also termed the move to build the corridor unfair.

Read: Baloch ire prompts security fears for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

“We will not accept this decision and will resist this move very strongly,” provincial Minister for Planning and Development Hamid Khan Achakzai told Reuters. “It will be a big injustice.”

Jaffar Khan Mandokhel, a former provincial minister, said there would be a “strong reaction” to the change which would only benefit Pakistan’s richest province.

“The change is meant to give maximum benefit to Punjab, which is already considered the privileged province,” he said.

Read: Two security personnel killed in Gwadar gun battle

The complaints highlight the political risks for a plan China sees as a key part of its aim to forge “Silk Road” land and sea ties to markets in the Middle East and Europe.

The army said it was tackling the security risks by setting up a special division for the corridor, including nine army battalions and paramilitary forces. The move was welcomed by the PTI on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, six separatist militants and two soldiers were killed in clashes in Balochistan, officials said.

Militants have also attacked Chinese workers in Pakistan. And China worries about separatists from Xinjiang, whom it blames for a series of attacks across China over the past year.

Read: Security forces successfully repelled attack on Air Traffic Control Radar in Pasni

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised Xi Pakistan would step up efforts to battle terrorism.

 

[pakman12]

The plan for the highway appears to be strange and favours Lahore since it passes next to it rather than going straight up the middle of Pakistan.

It is obviously designed to benefit the Punjab areas, especially the PMLN base which is to be expected from leadership which does things for their own interest rather than for the country as a whole.

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Watch Ahsan Iqbal Press Conference Today he said there will be 3 routes and showed the same map that Wall Street Journal showed... He also said that Motarway from Peshawar to Karachi is different Project started in 90's so don't merge Karachi Lahore Peshawar Motarway and Pakistan China Economic Corridor... Answering the Question about Lahore Orange Line Metro Train He Said If is the Project Of Punjab Province Not Federal any other Province want to start such Project they can do it in their Budget no one is stopping them Lahore Orange has been Planned from 4 years now and now work will start any Province can make Metro Roads or whatever Provincial Gov wants to build... He also said that People who are creating confusion about Pakistan China Economic Corridor should come to us with their objections.... He Said work on 28 Projects has been started mostly will be completed in late 2017 and 2018

The plan for the highway appears to be strange and favours Lahore since it passes next to it rather than going straight up the middle of Pakistan.

It is obviously designed to benefit the Punjab areas, especially the PMLN base which is to be expected from leadership which does things for their own interest rather than for the country as a whole.

Please Stop Doing propaganda about Pakistan China Economic Corridor Below is the Map of Pakistan China Economic Corridor 2 Economic Corridor Roads in Pink and Motarway in Blue and Brown....

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Compare 2 Maps

By Wall Street Journal The Road Going From Karachi to Hyderabad and then Lahore is Motarway the Other 2 routes are Pakistan China Economic Corridor Road....

Haters Die

 

[ajpirzada]

The problem is that PMLN has not shared the details of the agreements.. Which road projects are being financed first? At what cost are the Chinese giving this loan? Which part of the loan is provincial and which part is federal?

Except for these maps, nothing is known. All we hear is some odd comments... I personally know from planning commission sources that the government has guaranteed 27% dollar return to the Chinese on energy projects. Why are such details not being shared if the projects are so good for the country?

Is the federal government picking up the cost of 'orange line' and 'lahore - sukkur' motorway? And also the 1000MW solar project in Punjab? And another project on river Jehlam? Or is it the punjab government?

Why does the PMLN govt shy away from sharing the details? So it was for Metro, Nandipur, LNG and now this trade corridor.

May be the government wants to avoid controversy by not sharing the details. But, unfortunately, in doing so the government is doing the exact reverse - creating a controversy.

 

[Green Arrow]

Well it was Chinese who changed the routes as they are the one who are going to finance and built this. GOP has no major say in this. We should also keep in mind the security situation of KPK and Baluchistan as well. Chinese want to have less security issues and also want to safeguard their investment in this matter. Other routes can be connected one it is completed and GOP should take other parties into confidence before this project becomes politicise.

 

[SipahSalar]

Thick frothy drool has come onto the mouths of our politicians, like a hungry dog who sees a bone. A dog that wants to snatch that bone to feed its own appetite.

 

[Khalidr]

PTi bastards barking again..

Even PTI phobia can be seen here too, get some life kid and show some maturity while discussing issues. fools like you speaks without thinking of consequences.. Back to point, PTI never opposed or said against this investment on the other hand they did appreciated such investment because we are in dire need of it. ITS not PTI but your Nawaz who only invited his kitchen cabinet and ignored rest of the province representatives, why to this Nawaz Pakistan is only limited to Lahore and Raiwind,

 

[Sinnerman108]

Well it was Chinese who changed the routes as they are the one who are going to finance and built this. GOP has no major say in this. We should also keep in mind the security situation of KPK and Baluchistan as well. Chinese want to have less security issues and also want to safeguard their investment in this matter. Other routes can be connected one it is completed and GOP should take other parties into confidence before this project becomes politicise.

See this bull shit was started by that self proclaimed professor saleem idot safi.

Truth of the matter is, that all freight ( Land, sea or air ) is insured.
The two provinces in this case, can not guarantee security.
Thus raising the per kg shipping cost.

Secondly, it makes more sense to touch lahore; it will form a natural trader for India.
Remember we are laying the infrastructure; the more the trade the more money we make.

Thirdly, the two provinces have nothing to offer in terms of human resource, or other infrastructure to
support economic zones. Balochistan has water scarcity as does NWFP in certian areas. Thus it makes more sense
to have the road touch upon existing industrial area, so GoP can make revenue as fast as possible.

 

[Samandri]

Thirdly, the two provinces have nothing to offer in terms of human resource, or other infrastructure to
support economic zones. Balochistan has water scarcity as does NWFP in certian areas. Thus it makes more sense
to have the road touch upon existing industrial area, so GoP can make revenue as fast as possible.

Or the two provinces, poor and backward, need economic zones for uplifting

 

[shaheenmissile]

The plan for the highway appears to be strange and favours Lahore since it passes next to it rather than going straight up the middle of Pakistan.

It is obviously designed to benefit the Punjab areas, especially the PMLN base which is to be expected from leadership which does things for their own interest rather than for the country as a whole.

Yes because most of the industries upcountry are concentrated around Lahore and Sialkot.
There is no point in building the highway Passing through say FATA as it will be only used for Weapons and Narcotics smuggling.

 

[Samandri]

Y
There is no point in building the highway Passing through say FATA as it will be only used for Weapons and Narcotics smuggling.

There is no highway in FATA. The proposed route is through KPK and Balochistan, and that would be shortest route. Takhte-e-Lahore and its awaam should not be greedy and selfish, they should at least show some level of interest and sincerity in developing Balochistan and North-West

 

[shaheenmissile]

There is no highway in FATA. The proposed route is through KPK and Balochistan, and that would be shortest route. Takhte-e-Lahore and its awaam should not be greedy and selfish, they should at least show some level of interest and sincerity in developing Balochistan and North-West

Again the Highway is to connect existing Industrial hubs with China. There are no Industrial hubs in KPK or Balochistan.

 

[Muhammad Omar]

There is no highway in FATA. The proposed route is through KPK and Balochistan, and that would be shortest route. Takhte-e-Lahore and its awaam should not be greedy and selfish, they should at least show some level of interest and sincerity in developing Balochistan and North-West

Why you want make Highway across FATA?? The people there are scattered no city no nothing... It's better to keep Highway from KPK and Balochistan connecting cities with each other and move toward China

 

[K.P.K]

If they could get rid of us all then pmln won't hesitate to do that.

Sui Gas all these years where did the money go?.

Royalty of kpk hydro where did that go?, there is a court case ongoing and that will decide in favour of bigger provinces and federation.

We might as well accept fact that we are second class citizens & that's all we will be unless we demand our rights.

Simple thing to do is for Baluchistan and kpk government to block this corridor in their respective provincial assemblies unless a transparent process takes place from which the locals will benefit.

Fata will keep on suffering, where in your own country you are not an equal you can't go high court or get rights that other Pakistanis do.

Presence of one CM Shabaz shareef highlighted the obvious for whose benefit this corridor is for.