CPEC and the people

Letter August 02, 2019
If development is for the common people then, before CPEC, the authorities should try and improve things in Gwadar

TURBAT: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a collective vision between Pakistan and China to improve relations and promote development.

It is clear that CPEC has proved successful for China as it has started reaping many benefits from it. Gwadar is a district in Balochistan which is full of natural resources. However, most areas have practically no clean drinking water.

Even though Gwadar is a vital part of CPEC, people are deprived of basic necessities. Development in Pakistan facilitates the rich but makes matters worse for the poor. Even though CPEC development is in full force, people in Gwadar lack basic facilities. It only benefits specific upper strata of society while leaving the majority of the population in the same miserable condition. This is shameful. People should not be used as mere means to an end. Human life should not be treated like this. CPEC hopes to bring progress. Even though it has opened up many job opportunities, the local people are left unemployed.

If development is really for the common people then, before CPEC, the authorities should try and improve things in Gwadar. We need to work on internal development before asking other countries for investment. Why would they invest if we are not willing to improve conditions in our own country? Money is not the only form of investment. But all we now care about is economic benefit. It is sad to see the mindset of the educated people in this country.

Junaid Bakht Baloch

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2019.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.