CPEC security

Questions have been raised about difference between Chinese & Pakistan work ethic in connection with progress on CPEC

Questions have been raised about the difference between the Chinese and the Pakistan work ethic in connection with progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), namely that the Chinese approach tends to be to get things done as soon as possible whereas the Pakistan approach is to get things done — eventually. There are already many thousands of Chinese in-country working on various elements of the CPEC and the federal government long ago decided — rightly — on the formation of a special security division that must be deployed for the protection of the Chinese workers who have been attacked in the past and remain vulnerable in some parts of the country today.

It is now learnt that the provinces have yet to give authorisation for the deployment of the special security force, mainly because of challenges to the CPEC from assorted “regional powers” — read vested interests — that see the development of the CPEC as a threat to their own assets and/or interests. This wrinkle in the implementation process emerged during a meeting called to review progress. The National Highway Authority raised the matter relative to the deployment of the Special Force on the Thakot-Havelian stretch of the CPEC and was informed that “administrative issues” were the problem and specifically the jurisdiction of the new force and its rules of engagement.



This and other issues should have long ago been ironed out, not presenting today as impediments. The provinces — Punjab apart — have not responded to letters written to them in this regard and the interior secretary has now given them a week to respond to the Ministry of the Interior. We anticipate that this is not going to be the only instance of provincial hampering of the CPEC as there was much that should have been discussed and finalised before the project as a whole got the green light. There are serious provincial reservations, particularly relating to which province is going to be the greatest beneficiary, with Punjab believed to be the biggest winner. The Chinese have already expressed their frustration at slow progress and it is not unreasonable to expect more of the same.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.

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