What’s the point of talking about encouraging indigenous talent, resources when we are not allowing them to compete
RAWALPINDI: Deeper than the oceans, higher than the Himalayas and sweeter than honey are the adages used to describe the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will bring the two countries even closer and Chinese trade trucks and companies are expected to be a common sight in Pakistan. The strength of this relationship lies in the heart of Pakistanis who believe China to be an all-weather friend and expect a prosperous future from this friendship. However, there are some concerns, which, if not addressed at the earliest, may lead to the weakening of this comradeship, which is entirely based on trust and sincerity.
A pertinent example in this case is the bidding for the Havelian-Thakot section of the Karakoram Highway for which only Chinese companies were allowed to participate. With the absence of competition from Pakistani and international companies, the bids that were submitted were more than double the National Highway Authority’s PC-I cost estimate, worked out to be under Rs97 billion. The high cost of projects will be debited to the loans for Pakistan, which can be avoided at this stage. Pakistani companies have constructed high quality roads both within and outside the country (particularly in the Middle East). The advent of public-private partnership projects have encouraged the financial sector and infrastructure development companies to come forward and enhance the pace of development, which is a good omen for strengthening our own resources for the progress of Pakistan. According to established practice, even foreign companies, later, sublet their contracts to Pakistani companies which implement them on the ground.
What’s the point of talking about encouraging our indigenous talent and resources when we are not even allowing them to compete on equal terms with foreign companies? Why do we not learn from our neighbours China, India and even the Middle East, which make it mandatory to involve local resources for any development venture? By denying opportunities to our own people, how can we expect Pakistan’s economy to grow by leaps and bounds from the CPEC, as touted by the present government? China is at our doorstep to help us out, but it is for us Pakistanis to make the work on the CPEC transparent, show confidence in our own resources and take decisions that serve our supreme national interest.
Muhammad Rashid Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2015.
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