Foreign Ministers Dialogue and the future of CPEC

IN a reassuring development, Pakistan and China have reaffirmed the “commitment to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor” and agreed to ensure the smooth implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, in particular, its special economic zones. During strategic dialogue of Foreign Ministers of the two countries in Beijing, the two sides rejected the negative propaganda against CPEC, they expressed a strong resolve to safeguard CPEC from all kinds of threats.

The outcome of the strategic dialogue is surely a morale booster for people of Pakistan as speculations were rife about putting the CPEC on back-burner especially in the backdrop of diversion of huge funds meant for the project for other programmes. There were also rumours that the country was facing enormous foreign pressure on CPEC and this could threaten the smooth running of the project. We have been emphasizing in these columns that the project is directly linked to the progress and prosperity of the country and, therefore, we should resist all kinds of pressure and pursue it with full vigour. It is a bilateral project of economic importance and there was no reason to succumb to any pressure when China itself is more than willing to provide required funds to take all the projects, which are under implementation or agreed future projects. The latest commitment of the two countries to CPEC augurs well for shared prosperity and we would urge the two governments to prioritize projects relating to development of Gwadar port and its connectivity with other parts of the country and also with neighbouring countries. Full functioning of the port is central to the success of CPEC and trickling down of its benefits and advantages for not just people of Balochistan but for entire Pakistan.