CPEC's advancement to the second phase
Category : Opinion Editorial Source : Asia Times Date : 22-03-2019 By : Wasif Malik
Dr Talat Shabbir, Director of the Pakistan-China Study Centre has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is just a part of the strong and strengthening bilateral relationship between Pakistan and China. He has labeled CPEC as a platform of regional connectivity for all the countries in the region. He also said that CPEC has now reached its second phase with a focus on socioeconomic development, as the chronic energy crisis of Pakistan has been addressed and the necessary infrastructure is in place. Citing the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said that CPEC has been made a welfare project to better facilitate the people of Pakistan.
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The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has entered its second phase. The first phase, which involved an expenditure of nearly US$20 billion, targeted energy and infrastructure. The second phase will focus more on socio-economic development.
Some see Pakistan-China relations only in the context of CPEC, a collection of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout the South Asian country, but it is only one part of a broader bilateral relationship. This was the opinion expressed by Dr Talat Shabbir, director of the China Pakistan Study Centre, in an interview with Asia times. In addition to his role at the China Pakistan Study Centre, which is run by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), he works for various think-tanks related to CPEC and other Pakistan-China projects.
Dr Talat told Asia Times that CPEC has to be completed in two phases. The objectives of the first phase were to address issues pertaining to the energy crisis, infrastructure and terrorism, which has been accomplished. Electric load shedding is no longer an issue, terrorism is under control, and the necessary infrastructure is in place for the second phase.
As per the vision and will of the government of Pakistan, priority in this phase will be given to socio-economic development to help the Pakistani public to the maximum extent. Dr Talat said the government’s vision is better than those of previous governments, which overlooked the welfare of the common man. Prime Minister Imran Khan, however, primarily focuses on the well-being of the general public, he said. He added that Khan thinks that projects, including CPEC, have no value if the benefits cannot be enjoyed by the general public.
Dr Talat said CPEC will cost US$45 billion, but that people should keep in mind that it is still just one project and cannot change the whole game. It may not offer solutions for every problem and may not in itself eradicate poverty. But it can contribute to the overall betterment of the country. Dr Talat emphasized that achieving real prosperity will involve taking several other measures that are being planned.
