The government has taken a step in right direction by constituting CPEC centres in all four provinces
LAHORE: There is no doubt that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is going to be a game changer in the region, making Pakistan geostrategically more vital in the world, in general, and in the region, in particular. A project of this size and nature must be dealt with special consciousness, prudence and pragmatism. The diversity of the CPEC projects in Pakistan must be kept in view as the projects relate to each sector of our economy, including education, health, and infrastructure development, both human and physical. In this regard, the government should make some effort solely devoted to the CPEC. For its implementation and keeping in view its economic vitality, security threats, international conspiracies and financial vulnerability, the government should constitute a separate dedicated ministry at the federal level so as to align and consolidate all energies to cast a more meaningful impact on the implementation of the CPEC projects in true letter and in spirit.
This will not only help in streamlining the government’s efforts to monitor them and ensure timely completion of all projects on a single platform, saving economic and financial resources effectively, but it will also help facilitate Chinese engagement with the government at a single point. It will act as a one-stop shop. The government has taken a step in right direction by constituting CPEC centres in all four provinces, but an effort must be made at the federal level by constituting another specialised ministry for the CPEC to streamline those centres.
Muhammad Fahad Anwer
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2016.
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