The PML-N and the former army chief have claimed that CPEC is a game changer
ABBOTTABAD: Since the start of the PML-N government, it has taken many a steps for the uplift of society. It may have achieved something during the course of time such as the major Metro and Orange Train projects, but it has realised somehow that these projects are not up to the level of understanding of the masses. This particular government has ignored all of the important sectors of agriculture — the mainstay of the Pakistan economy — education, health, and foreign policy. It is concentrating on road infrastructure just to raise some revenue. The Metro and Orange Train are mainly supporting the steel industry, which is the business of the majority of politicians-come-businessmen. According to government sources, the current government is also concentrating on industry, but it is ignoring the fact that Pakistan cannot compete on the international front with many of the industrialised countries.
The CPEC Chinese workers call it “One Belt, One Road”. The PML-N government is exaggerating CPEC on all fronts to overshadow the ignored sectors that I have mentioned. Though a huge investment is coming from China, which may be good for Pakistan, I am afraid that what happened to the previous so many projects may also happen to CPEC.
The PML-N and the former army chief have claimed that CPEC is a game changer, but which game? It should be noted that with the advent of CPEC, certain problems for Pakistan have started to emerge, which will be too difficult for the government to handle. An example is the problem of the Indus Waters Treaty, which India can use very effectively to destabilise Pakistan. Furthermore, Pakistan cannot start the construction of Diamer Bhasha Dam until it obtains a no objection certificate from the Indian government. Keeping the above points in mind, our politicians should not exaggerate the issue of CPEC and must evaluate the pros and cons of this project.
Muhammad Aamir
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2017.
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