Call for countering disinformation about CPEC

Speakers highlight role of parliament in shaping positive public opinion about vital road project

ISLAMABAD:

Speakers have called for chalking out a comprehensive strategy to debunk the myths being created through disinformation campaigns against the CPEC.

They also discussed challenges that CPEC was facing currently and shared suggestions to deal with them while also utilising the opportunities.

They were speaking at a webinar titled 'CPEC: fact versus fiction' organized by the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI). The webinar was attended by over 60 participants online, and featured six speeches, including Sher Ali Arbab, MNA, Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on CPEC, Senator Mushahid Hussain, Chairman Senate Defence Committee and Pakistan-China Institute, and others.

In his keynote speech, MNA Sher Ali Arbab, said that the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC has set up three pillars that act as a blueprint of its functioning: it is above party lines, the proceedings of the committee are conducted in-camera for responsible messaging, and the chairman of the committee acts as its spokesperson.

He highlighted the role of parliament in shaping positive public opinion on CPEC through public interaction. He lauded the work on CPEC phase-one which bridged the infrastructure gap and made energy shortage a relic of the past. He termed CPEC Phase-II a catalyst for industrial overhaul and called for the inclusion of Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey.

Read Issues stymying CPEC projects remain unresolved

Tehmina Janjua for the success of CPEC, we need to expand the beneficiaries of this important project. Potential beneficiaries in the region include Afghanistan, Iran, Central Asian republics, she said. She also called for a meaningful engagement with the US, including on CPEC, to realize the dream of regional connectivity.

Dr Jawad Sayed, Professor at LUMS, talked about the role that universities can play in shaping public opinion on CPEC and called for interdisciplinary research on CPEC. He called for diversity and integration as the key to the success of projects like CPEC.

Senator Mushahid Hussain pointed out that the Pakistan-China relationship is unique, timetested, non-transactional, non tactical and not directed against any country. He termed people-to-people connectivity as the core of this relationship which was recently manifested in a US Pew survey according to which 83% Pakistanis view China as a friend.

The CPEC Phase 1, he said, has improved infrastructure and alleviated the energy crisis, and revived dead projects like Gwadar Port and Thar coal. As a result of phase one projects, 75,000 Pakistanis gained employment opportunities. Moreover, he said that the best of CPEC is yet to come through SEZs. He termed yesterday’s phone call with President Xi Jinping as timely which reflected that CPEC is resilient, steadfast and on track. He also lauded President Xi Jinping’s Global Development Initiative as positive for people-centric development.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2021.