INTRODUCTION

As Chinese proverb asserts, “You cannot live in a castle made of glass while your
neighbour lives in the stone ages”. In accordance with this Chinese wisdom, the
Chinese mega project, CPEC based on “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) initiative,
worth approximately $900 billion, is a plan of regional connectivity and
cooperation. It is a win-win situation for both China and Pakistan as they are the
primary beneficiaries of the project. OBOR is a regional connectivity strategy that
comprises 65 countries and six economic corridors and caters to two-thirds of the
world’s population. It aims to improve infrastructure in these countries and
enhance the movement of goods and people, promoting trade and exchange,
generating more economic activities and employment opportunities for the whole
region. This will definitely better the standard of living for people in this region of
the world. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of the six
economic corridors proposed under the OBOR initiative. It is the shortest, most
convenient and most feasible corridor, among them all.

Due to Gwadar’s strategic importance, the CPEC was under consideration since
long. Ex-president Pervaz Musharaf proposed this project during his tenure,
though it could not be materialized owing to the deteriorating law and order
situation of the country. During PPP’s government, Singapore was handling the
Gwadar port. The then President Asif Zardari took the initiative and cancelled the
contract with Singapore. After cancellation of contract, it was signed with China.
In 2013 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Pakistan. Both the countries signed
Memorandum of understanding (MoU) and Gawdar port’s development and
operations were handed over to china.

As expressed by President Xi Jinping, “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is so

precisely situated that it magically connects Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st
Century Maritime Silk Road.” Another vital aspect is that Gwadar Port will
eventually create a link between China, Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics
(CARs) with prospective revenues more than billions of dollars every year for all
the countries.

There are huge opportunities for Pakistan in the CPEC. It is one of the largest
foreign investments ever made here. The Chinese are making massive
investments in infrastructure, energy and others sectors. As per the plans, nearly
3000 kilometres of roads will be constructed for transit trade.

Oil and gas pipelines are now in an advanced stage of completion throughout the country. One of
them is an oil and gas pipeline from Gwadar to Nawabshah constructed by a Chinese company,
and another from Karachi to Lahore is under the initial stages of construction by a Russian
company. In the future, transportation of energy (oil, gas, LNG, etc) will be conveniently
transported by pipelines, instead of with costly trucks that cause pollution. In the next few years,
these pipelines will also be transporting oil and gas from Gwadar to inside China through
Khunjerab, at a fraction of the cost of the sea containers going through Malacca Strait. Even if
China imports only ten per cent of its requirements through CPEC pipelines, Pakistan will be
earning billions of dollars in revenue, and this makes it a win-win situation for both countries.
 Among the 51 projects signed during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jin Ping, priority
was given to power projects that amounted to a total worth of 33 billion. Some of these
power projects have been completed and have begun adding power to the National Grid.
However, several of the mega projects will take some time to complete. Upon completion
of these projects, it is expected that Pakistan will have sufficient power, and there will be
no more shortage of power. The next stage of CPEC is under planning, also referred to as
the “industrialisation” phase. The Chinese industrial sector is saturated and increasing
labour cost is forcing Chinese industries to shift out of China. Pakistan is the best
destination for the Chinese industry. Pakistan is planning industrial parks, special
economic zones and science parks to facilitate the flourishing of the Chinese industry in
Pakistan. After overcoming the power shortage, the shifting of Chinese industries into
Pakistan will be accelerated.
 CPEC will directly or indirectly generate around two million jobs. In the beginning,
Chinese workforce will be hired in Pakistan, but gradually within a few years once
Pakistan trains its workforce to the Chinese standard, Pakistanis will replace the
workforce. Chinese industry will increase our productivity, reduce our imports, and
enhance our exports. The economy will grow on an unprecedented scale. It will also
improve the security situation in Pakistan as well as in the whole region. The
aforementioned is possible if we unite and work hard. We need visionary and sincere
leadership to execute this. The common man in Pakistan is honest, simple, hardworking
and willing to devote himself to the cause of a prosperous nation.