Thinking big

The Chinese never do anything by halves, neither do they have much faith in short-termism when it comes to development nationally or internationally. It is a country that although still Communist has adapted successfully to both internal and external market forces and realpolitik — and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is very much evidence of that. The macro project in its various iterations — and there are many, it is a multi-stringed necklace of interconnected projects — is in the headlines on most days. Elements of CPEC are being commissioned regularly with PM Nawaz Sharif last week inaugurating the construction of the road between Gwadar Port and the national highway near Surab, Quetta, thus providing the shortest route to Afghanistan and other Central Asian states. This is a cycle that is going to continue for years to come.

The project is not without its critics, some of them very vocal and very visible and the Chinese on Monday 19^th December made an unusually forthright statement in respect of allegations of ‘wrongdoing’ in respect of CPEC. The Chinese statement concentrated on potential damage to the project being caused by those seeking to make it in some way controversial, in particular that Punjab is going to be the principal beneficiary in the short to medium term.

Considering the investment the Chinese are making their irritation, rarely publicly expressed, may be justified. Conceptually the CPEC goes far beyond the creation of a modern Silk Road. It is part of a network of routes that are to come to fruition around the time of the 100^th anniversary of the Communist revolution — and that is 35 years away. The CPEC will be a game changer for Pakistan if — and it is a big if — it is able to maximize the potential it presents, but it will be an even bigger game-changer geopolitically if China can bring its entire vision to pass. Pakistan needs to embrace the project in its entirety and develop at least some of the long-sightedness of the Chinese. Provincial infighting is something the Chinese are going to have little patience with or time for, because they have a very big picture to paint.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2016.

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