The CPEC is a wonderful news for Pakistan but we must move forward with eyes wide open
KARACHI: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) mega project has been widely welcomed in Pakistan as a game changer. The advantages of the CPEC are many but there are also many aspects that may be detrimental to our interest in the long-term. The first issue is sovereignty. We would transfer sovereignty of some of our territory to a foreign power and this is no ordinary foreign power. China is an emerging superpower with global ambitions. There is no doubt that China has been a strong and constant supporter of Pakistan throughout our history but as a responsible nation, Pakistan should maintain sovereignty and self-respect in its assessment of the project.
It is proposed that most of the construction work will be done by thousands of Chinese workers. Does this make sense for Pakistan, given the widespread and painful unemployment? Would it not be in our best interest to have Pakistanis do the work? These and a whole range of other issues must be addressed when so much is at stake. However, it seems that this mega project has distracted us from the rigorous risk-based cost-benefit analysis that it entails. The CPEC is a wonderful news for Pakistan but we must move forward with eyes wide open and with full understanding of not only the rewards that the project holds for Pakistan, but also the possible pitfalls that may lie in wait for us.
Arifa Hassan
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2016.
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