Gilgit Baltistan

Ambitious project: Ex-minister of G-B sees dark side to corridor

Says direct Kashgar-Havelian train service will hit G-B economy

Peer Muhammad April 24, 2015

PHOTO: BROOSHALTIMES

ISLAMABAD: Former finance minister Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Mirza Hussain expressed his concerns over the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, saying it will have disastrous implications on the economic and commercial activities in G-B if it were to be directly linked through rapid train service from Kashgar to Havelian.

“On the basis of my 20 years experience with China from G-B, I can see a bleak future for G-B economic activities through this much touted corridor project”, he told The Express Tribune in Islamabad on Thursday.

Mirza, a PTI leader who is considered a leading importer and exporter to China, stated that there will not be any dry port in the G-B area and the existing Sust dry port seems to be redundant once the direct train service starts as the Chinese have planned to establish corridor in their own side.

It seems, he said, the G-B territory will only be used for railways tunnels and all the goods would be uploaded directly in China and then reach Havelian, adding that it would also end even the existing economic activities in G-B due to the Karakoram Highway (KKH).

The ex-minister said according to the corridor feasibility report there are no trade zones in G-B which the region deserves as much as does Gwadar.

“This will be an economic disaster for the people of G-B because most of our youth are engaged in the Sust dry port, with transport and hotel businesses as well as labourers, and all these will come to an end if goods were transported through rapid train service,” he maintained.

Mirza added that in the presence of a fast track train service, there will not be any motorway or expansion of the KKH because most of the businessmen will use train service for transporting their goods due to comparatively cheap fare.

“Whatever we have gained due to the Karakoram Highway, it will be snatched by the corridor”, he claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (2)

Pervezak Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Totally agree with the concerns highlighted in the comments above. Sustainability issues must be addressed while constructing in a fragile landscape. Infact a neutral panel of experts from fields of Hydrology, seismology, civil engineering and ecology should monitor the whole PCEC construction activities. We are talking about trillions and n8t billions. Just imagine the impact of Tarbela sedimentatiin and one gets the idea.

Helga Ahmad | 9 years ago | Reply The former finance Minister of GB is concerned about the effect the Rapid Train Service from Kashgar to Havelian will have on the economic and commercial activities in GB. His points are well founded, but so far no voice has been raised from the irrigated plains of Pakistan, or for that matter the rest of the country. As surely forgotten is not, that the Indus River and its tributaries from GB are Pakistan’s Lifeline. The damage caused through uncontrolled dynamiting during the early construction of the KKH and the aging process of those cracks, without remedial measures, have been instrumental in keeping the KKH periodically closed, even during the slightest rainfall. Added to it over the last decades has been/ is the massive deforestation and wrong agricultural practices which have today turned our Northern Regions into a highly fragile landscape. Trampled upon continuous to be the country’s signatory of AGENDA 21. Under Chapter 13: Managing Fragile Ecosystems - SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT is emphasized. Thus, the Government should have ensured that whatever development was/is undertaken within the watersheds of Pakistan’s Lifeline, the River Indus, were within the requirements of Chapter 13. The disaster of the Attabad Landslide should have ignited concern, instead tunnels are constructed to ensure safe movement for the massive heavy vehicular transport – while ignored remains the constant vibration caused by it. While of course the continuing dynamiting to expand the communication system is considered a necessity. Recently cracks at Miachar have been focused on and the potential of another blockage of Hunza River, while cracks around Hatal Shah and Ratal are still ignored. Should note not be taken of what will come rolling down into the River System as its final destination will be Tarbela Reservoir. And down there, warning signals have been voiced over many years now. Conveniently ignored seems to be that Basha and Dassu Dams too are in the planning stage, therefore , should questions not be raised: Whose responsibility is it, to protect the “watersheds” ?

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