CHINA PAKISTAN ECONOMIC COORIDOR

OVERVIEW:

CPEC Vision & Mission:

China Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) is a ray of hope for both china and
Pakistan. Vision of this corridor id to improve the lives of citizens of both countries,
and to promote bilateral connectivity, construction, explore potential bilateral
investment, economic and trade. The missions of government with regards to CPEC
includes:
• Integrated Transport & IT systems including Road, Rail, Port, Air and Data
Communication Channels
• Energy Cooperation
• Spatial Layout, Functional Zones, Industries and Industrial Parks
• Agricultural Development
• Socio-Economic Development (Poverty Alleviation, Medical Treatment,
Education, Water Supply, Vocational Training)
• Tourism Cooperation & People to People Communication
• Cooperation in Livelihood Areas
• Financial Cooperation
• Human Resource Development (CPEC, 2020)
Although CPEC is a great source of development but there are a lot of internal and
external challenges, threatening the economic corridor.
External Challenges:
1. The most important external challenge is India’s quarrelsome attitude towards
CPEC. Indian offending demand is that Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed territory,
therefore; route of CPEC passing through that territory is unfair. Additionally, as
China is developing ports in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh along with Gwadar that
are considered a probable military challenge to India. India thoughts that in
future China can block sea access to India by escalating such ports.
 Consequently, India is unhappy with the development of CPEC and trying to
sabotage CPEC by playing its card in Balochistan.
2. Secondly, as china is a great competitor of USA, and CPEC can be the game
changer. Therefore, US also intervene in this project and trying to disturb
development by strengthening its ties with Iran and India. Moreover, Iran is also
unhappy with this development because they consider the Gwadar port as an
alternative option Chabahar Port, the most important port through which Asia’s
maximum trade is done.
3. Recently, COVID19 is a great challenge for Pakistan to continue progress
during pandemic.
Internal challenges:
1. Along with serious international challenges there are very worst domestic
challenges. Pakistan is politically destabilised country; this instability is a
huge obstacle in the way of any development and progress. From Khan’s
dharna in 2013 to PDM in 2020, politics could not be stabilised in Pakistan. The
decision of Making CPEC authority in the headship of retired general triggered
the opposition and public aggression. The opposition parties mainly the
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party, which
promote strengthening of existing civilian institutions involved in the CPEC,
aligned against the government and military role in politics. They have
organized rallies across the country under an alliance called the Pakistan
Democratic Movement (PDM) with the demand of demolition of government.
2. Furthermore, Baluchistan insurgency and ethnic nationalistic approach is
also severe threat for CPEC there are different militant groups that are threat
for developments in general and CPEC in particular in Baluchistan. And CPEC
has its heart in Gwadar Baluchistan. Moreover, Baluchi people are also
resistant towards change, they are deprived of their due rights and they thought
CPEC will further deprived them of their rights.

Govt’s Policy Tactics:

To cope up with security challenges government has made CPEC authority

(CPECA) with the hold of Army. Although this authority is helpful in maintenance of
security but it causes political instability in Pakistan. Additionally, to satisfy Baluch

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people government has announced specific quota for Baluch people in this project.
But Baluch’s wants are more than simple quota. Because Baluchistan is a backward
province, even people has not enough cleaned water to drink. To deal with
international challenges government is trying to strengthen their ties with Turkey,
Iran and other Asian countries.

Conclusion and recommendations:

This mega project has mega challenges, but the government has not any effective
policies to cope up with internal and external challenges to CPEC. The policy makers
should be more vigilant towards these challenges. Firstly, govt. should focus on the
Baluchistan prosperity to satisfy the Balochis’ needs. Secondly, the military should be
kept aside from interfering in the political matters of the country. So that the political
instability can be minimised. And most importantly government has maintained batter
diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries to meet global challenges.