Balochistan’s CPEC share

Lawmakers put aside their differences to criticise what they consider a measly share in the humungous project

Balochistan’s lawmakers across the aisle have put aside their differences to vent their indignation at what they consider a measly share in the humungous CPEC. Disparate voices have been heard for way too long, but on Friday the provincial assembly channelised these murmurings of discontent into a properly drafted resolution with all parliamentary forces stamping their seal of approval. Through this resolution, the assembly demanded of the federal government to form a national commission to look into the alleged unjust distribution of the corridor projects. One of the key demands contained in the motion is that the federal authorities show more openness about the project details, peeling away layers of secrecy wrapping the grand scheme.

Moved by an opposition member Sana Baloch, the resolution pointed out that a total of $62 billion have been poured into the project but Balochistan stood completely ignored, receiving a niggardly share in the CPEC pie. The lawmakers were wary that such an attitude would further heighten the sense of deprivation vexing the already harried people of Balochistan. Its MPs want the province’s territorial size to be considered when bestowing it its rights. The mover of the resolution was at pains to point out that his province had never been given its due share in national resources.

At the time of CPEC’s launch, he whimpered, it was said that the project would help turn Pakistan into the Asian Tiger and Balochistan the tiger of Pakistan. Far from attaining that promised appellation, the province is left to feel like an ignored sibling. A Balochistan National Party-Mengal legislator, Mr Baloch painted a dark picture of the goings-on. He asserted that on the eastern route of the CPEC all facilities of education, health, job, communication and industrial development were available, while the western route of the corridor had been bare of such facilities. Chief Minister Jam Kamal added to the litany of grievances, saying that the province only had two projects, the Gwadar port and Hubco-China coal-fired power plant in the CPEC, and blamed his predecessors for the sorry state of affairs. It’s time the federal government, in coordination with China, redressed the province’s grievances.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2018.

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