Pakistan

Provinces dilly-dallying over deployment of CPEC force

Sindh, Balochistan, K-P given a week to respond to interior ministry’s letter

Shahbaz Rana September 07, 2016

Sindh, Balochistan, K-P given a week to respond to interior ministry’s letter. PHOTO: ONLINE

ISLAMABAD: The special security division could not be deployed for the protection of Chinese working on projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor because provinces have yet to give the necessary authorisation for their deployment.

The issue came to surface during a meeting that was called to review progress on the implementation of the $46 billion CPEC projects. The provinces remained reluctant amid renewed challenges to the CPEC from regional powers that see the geo-economic strategic initiative as a threat to their designs.

Provinces dilly-dallying over deployment of CPEC force

Officials of the National Highway Authority raised the issue of non-deployment of the Special Force on Thakot-Havelian project of the CPEC. Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired the meeting.

The officials said administrative issues for the deployment of the Special Force have yet to be sorted out. One of the main issues that needs to be addressed is whether the force’s jurisdiction will be the police station or the specific project area, said the officials.

The interior secretary was quoted in the meeting as saying that the provinces have not responded to the letters written to them on the rules of engagements of the armed forces in the execution of the CPEC projects, according to officials of Ministry of Planning.

They said the secretary also stated in the meeting that only Punjab responded to the letter, but it too did not give a clear response and sought more clarifications.

Punjab gets lion’s share in Chinese projects

“We have given one-week deadline to Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to give a response to the Ministry of Interior,” Iqbal said while talking to The Express Tribune.

The minister said the committee also recommended the premier to call a meeting of the national steering committee on the CPEC.

The officials said the minister warned that the government will not tolerate negligence by any ministry on the issue of implementation of the CPEC. He again sought to speed up the work on the execution of the projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (13)

Nasir Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Recent resistance over CPEC created in the smaller provinces of Khyber-Pakhtukhwa (K-P), Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) & Balochistan suggests the gigantic hurdles in the way of execution of the project. Political figures in the FATA region continue to show tooth and nail opposition to the project. People of FATA raise concern over alleged shifting of the industrial parks along the original western route to the eastern route thus denying the dividends of the project to the people of K-P and Balochistan. FATA representatives questioned the criteria for the allocation of the energy projects to the developed provinces like Punjab and them getting the lion's share in the CPEC. Pakistan Govt. has made only half-hearted attempts to assuage the concerns of FATA province and it would have to do a lot more to realise Pakistani dream of becoming “Asian Tiger”.

cautious | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan has one of the largest armies on the planet and less than 10 percent are used in Waziristan's --- how about using the 90 percent who are apparently available? You might also consider asking China to replace it's workers with Pakistani workers which was the whole idea to start with.

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cautious | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan has one of the largest armies on the planet and less than 10 percent are used in Waziristan's --- how about using the 90 percent who are apparently available?

Sami | 8 years ago | Reply Gwadar is a sea port of Punjab. This CPEC is next kalabagh dam for pakistan.

roarwali | 8 years ago | Reply First make the details of the project public and then ask for security. Punjab and Center is making the project controversial

A J Khan | 8 years ago | Reply CPEC is too important to be left at whims and eccentricity of Sub Nationalists from a single province. In first place it should not be handled by Ministry of Planning Development & Reforms under Ahsan Iqbal. It concern the future of all of Pakistan and should be subject of a high powered committee having members from all provinces where they can protect and secure their rights. Not even once Inter Provincial Coordination Committee has been taken into confidence. With Duo Bros, the credibility of every thing going is very dubious.

Karachiite | 8 years ago | Reply Its China Punjan Economic Corridor, so let the 3 friends (PM, CM and the Interior Minister) do whatever needed to benefit themselves and their areas. I am yet to see any govt report on specific benefits of CPEC to Pakistan (read, not Punjab).

Muhammad ikram | 8 years ago | Reply The thing is needed from last 6 decades is unity. Yes "CPEC" its benefiting to Pakistan but the people handling what's about them ? Dude its a Chess inside chess. New ways of corruption.. Lol Well hope for the best. And about India he stays active against every of ur action taken by govt. So make them busy inside there country as they are doing here. Simple and easy answer. Good much Pakistan .. Good luck Humanity..

Hasan | 8 years ago | Reply Federal government should bear the cost of deployment of security force for cpec. Equal employment opportunities should be given to people from all provinces in this force. The force should have a headquarter in gawadar or quetta or in sindh or kpk

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply CPEC is primarily benefitting Punjab so why should the rest of the provinces care about it!!

Saad | 8 years ago | Reply @zubair I think u have gone mad. It does not matter which province is benefitting more from this project. Its about benefitting pakistan from this project Does punjab not a part of pakistan? Morever punjab have more developed network of roads as compared to other provinces so in order to complete cpec early it is passing through punjab and of course punjab is benefitting and once this accomplish it would benefit pakistan.

salman | 8 years ago | Reply @Zubair: I know your IQ level is pretty low but there are some major projects in KP and Balochistan too where these Chinese are working and need security when these two provinces are always under militant attacks by your mastermind Indian friends.

Zubair | 8 years ago | Reply Thakot-Havelian project is ADB project not CPEC (China) project. Further, why should KP and Baluchistan deploy forces when the CPEC is benefiting primarily Punjab ??

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