Pakistan

Gwadar-China route for economic corridor to be constructed first: Imran

Says this route since this is shortest, it will incur lower costs and reduce economic burden on big cities

Web Desk May 15, 2015

PTI chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: INP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Friday that the Gwadar-China route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor should be constructed first, as it is the shortest and would help reducing economic burden on big cities.

While speaking to media in Islamabad on Friday, Imran said the government’s first priority should be reduction in poverty, as 110 million people were still living below the poverty line in Pakistan.

Read: Rangers will not be able to stabilise Karachi for long: Imran Khan

The PTI chairman said the shortest route from Gwadar to China should first be constructed, as this area lagged behind in development.

“This will reduce poverty,” he said. “Unemployed people are going to Lahore and Karachi; this will reduce the economic burden in big cities."

Earlier, politicians have complained that a plan for projects worth $46 billion to be built with Chinese funding has been unfairly changed to the disadvantage of provinces.

While talking about the existing status-quo, Imran said it was based on injustice.

“In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), we will announce a finance award for direct funding to districts,” he said.

He added funds will not be allocated on the basis of likes and dislikes, adding that South Punjab and Balochistan have remained deprived by the centre.

Imran argued that although funds were being spent on big projects, hospitals and schools were in a poor state.

Regarding Karachi, he said Rangers could not provide a long-term solution, and the police needed to empowered and be rid of political interference.

COMMENTS (13)

Atta Ur Rehman | 9 years ago | Reply As Imran khan Says that shortest rout has suggested by China and also due to this shortest rout poverty will be decreased in kpk.because this province have also very poor. should be improvement and development in kpk.

Fayyaz | 9 years ago | Reply The economic corridor route will benefit China far more than Pakistan. China is trying to improve the conditions of its western provinces by industrialization. This is an effort to remove the unrest in these areas. China has trade surplus with almost all countries of the world. Even with the present route through ports on China's west coast, and then by sea to Karachi and road to rest of Pakistan, we are unable to compete. Imagine if China transports its goods through this corridor our markets will be flooded with cheap Chinese goods. By the way what can we export to China through this corridor or by sea through Karachi. To benefit from this corridor, we should insist on taking the direct and shortest route to Gwadur passing through KPK and Balauchistan. This is the only way we can pacify the Balauch population. Once the remote areas of Balauchistan are developed and subsequently industrialized they will feel a part of Pakistan. The original route also provides a better access to Afghanistan to and from sea. If the route is changed, Afghanistan may be tempted to use the route through Iran via Chahbahar port. Iran has already made considerable progress on the route from Afghanistan to Chabahar. The eastern or the new route is already fairly developed with road and rail network upto Karachi. This route will be more beneficial to India should Indian Punjab decide to export using this through Karachi and Gwadur. Whereas I do not agree with Pakhtuns on the Kalabagh dam, I think they are right as far as this change in the route is concerned.

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Virkaul | 9 years ago | Reply @Chachoo: Connect Industrial hubs of Pakistan to China and to deep sea? Are you kidding? As if Pakistani goods are lying in warehouses awaiting shipment to China and overseas because of lack of roads.

shahid | 9 years ago | Reply Mr Siddiqui is a typical follower to Mr. Nawaz Sharif. Please look no further. Sanity isn't in vicinity.

salman | 9 years ago | Reply Woo what a sudden change than last week. First Zardari now Imran Khan every one wants CPEC to be implemented asap.

Thunder | 9 years ago | Reply Bravo! You have an obligation to the people who voted for your party and whom your party represent.

Fed Up | 9 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: He is saying it should be developed first, that's all. Please don't criticize just for the sake of criticizing. But since you want to talk about development, here is something that might keep you quiet for a little while. https://kpkprogress.wordpress.com/ KPK is the only province that improved in the past year in education standards.

MMB | 9 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: I am sorry to ET but if you have allowed the biggest idiot that has been leaving comments on ET to Idiot to Imran Khan who is the pride of Pakistan than please publish my comment too. The basic formula that this person does not get is that Pakistan has been ruled 30 years by PMLN and PPP with the way the wanted. 30 years Punjab, Howmany years Karachi? What has changed? Everything is worse than before, debt on the country, poverty, conditions of country, heath sector, eductaion even dropped even further, what has been improved? Some idiots really don't have brain to understand that if you bang your head to the wall you head will hurt, if you do it twice it will hurt more and if you keep doing you will eventually fall down. This is what people like you are doing. You are well educated, typing English very well, what has your government given to those people fighting there life for 1 time food a day? In 30 years, the pverty has increased not decreaserd. Some idiot does not understand that whole media is appreciating efforts of PTI in KPK, the best police even addmitted by PMLN, NAB independant, Most spent on Education and health rather than mega products full of commission. Mr. Adnan, I will follow your leaders blindly I promie but show me atleast one, just one area of improvement in last 30 years compared to now? If not than what is your agenda behind all, a person known in the whole world as the most honest and Pakistanis like me and overseas Paksitanis give him billions in charity because they trust him, either those million people are really idiots including all overseas professionals or there is seriously something wrong with you. Criticise if you want but don't cross the limited only because you hate a person for no reason. ET please publish

Bilal | 9 years ago | Reply More than 1000 children per year did in Sargodha hospital in 2014. Same in 2013 and before. And do not ask what happens in hsopitals in remote places in Punjab. KPK ALL togather will not have this much death in hospitals in 2014. What does this tell us ? But noora supporters will remain deaf, dumb and blind. PUNAB has 7 times more number of un-rolled chidlren for school than KPK, where as the population is only 4 times. Balochsoitan and Sindh are not even worth mentioning. Love you Imran Khan.

Humza | 9 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: Imran Khan is just looking for another excuse to delay development in Pakistan so he can take over. His last dharna games cost a delay of many months when he scared away the Chinese President. Now that things are back on track, he wants to create discord to scare away investment and development again. The Chinese want a safe route that us up and running as quickly as possible. By all means make the Western corridor but use the existing roads and highways to get going where it can be started as soon as possible!

Chachoo | 9 years ago | Reply I would suggest Mr Imran Khan to learn about Economic Corridor and then jump the bandwagon of some nationalists who are misguiding in this regard. Who told you that the purpose of Economic Corridor is to just construct the shortest route for China?. Rather the purpose of Economic Corridor is to connect the Industrial hubs of Pakistan to China and also connect Pakistani industries with the deep sea. Since China needed the same so they are investing and it is like a Mutual beneficial relationship. So all Industrial hubs weather they are situated in Punjab,KP, Balochistan or Sindh should be connected to the port and to the economic corridor. So we need all three routes . Punjab is a major economic hub and one route must connect the bigger cities of Punjab to the route. It is pretty interesting that Imran Khan like ANP and nationalists want to benefit China and they want to construct the shortest route possible for them but they want Pakistani industrial cities especially the industries of Punjab to be neglected and not to be connected to any shortest route to China and the Gwadar. So the Benefit for China is prioritized but the benefit for the local industries especially in Punjab is being neglected?. What type of logic it is?. When it comes to votes Imran Khan will come to Punjab once again and he is retaining the seat from Pindi. But when it comes to any economic benefit then he is going against it. Interestingly one routes out of three have to pass from Pindi and mr Imran Khan is going against that route with this statement.

NY | 9 years ago | Reply @ Adnan Siddiqi: This idiot should know that hospitals and schools in KPK are in better shape today than they were two years ago.

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply This idiot has vowed that whenever he would open his funny mouth, the only thing he will spew will be piles. How Balochistan stands deprived when the corridor originates in Gawadar which is in Balochistan?!!! As for South Punjab, PPP spun this "Deprivation" choorun for 5 years and look what happened to them in 2013. Hospitals and schools just like power generation are provisional subjects now. How many new hospitals, schools and power projects have been initiated by KPK government?

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