By C Andrew
CPEC will not only
benefit China and Pakistan but will have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan,
India, Central Asian Republic, and the region as well. The enhancement of
geographical linkages having improved road, rail and air transportation system
with frequent and free exchanges of growth and people to people contact, better
understanding through academic, cultural and regional knowledge, high volume of
trade and businesses, producing and moving energy and increased co-operation
through win-win model will result in well connected, integrated region of
shared destiny, harmony and development. CPEC is journey towards economic
regionalization in the globalized world. It is hope of better region of the
future with peace, development and growth of economy. The massive
infrastructure project to improve maritime and road connectivity is viewed as
being a “game-changer” for Pakistan’s economy. However, the CPEC project at its
core is envisaged as the link between Chaina’s ambitious “One Belt and One
Road” project and the “Maritime Silk Route” project.
The
CPEC will open doors to immense economic opportunities not only to Pakistan but
will physically connect China to its markets in Asia, Europe and beyond. Almost
80% of the China’s oil is currently transported from Strait of Malacca to
Shanghai, (distance is almost 16,000 km and takes 2-3 months), with Gwadar
becoming operational, the distance would reduce to less than 5,000 km. If all
goes well and on schedule, of the 21 agreements on energy – including gas, coal
and solar energy – 14 will be able to provide up to 10,400 megawatts (MW) of
energy. According to China Daily, these projects would provide up to 16,400 MW
of energy altogether. As part of infrastructure projects worth approximately
$11 billion and 1,100 kilometer long motorway will be constructed between the
cities of Karachi and Lahore, while the Karakoram Highway between Rawalpindi
and the Chinese border will be completely reconstructed and overhauled. The
Karachi-Peshawar main railway line will also be upgrade to allow for train
travel at up to 160 kilometers per hour by December 2019. Pakistan’s railway
network will also be extended to eventually connect to China’s southern
Xinjiang Railway in Kashgar. A network of pipelines to transport liquefied
natural gas and oil will also be laid as part of the project, including a $2.5
billion pipeline between Gwadar and Nawabshah to transport gas from Iran. Oil
from the Middle East could be offloaded at Gwadar and transported to China
through the corridor, cutting the current 12,000 km journey to 2,395 km. It
will act as a bridge for the new Maritime Silk Route that envisages linking 3
billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe, part of a trans-Eurasian project.
When fully operational, Gwadar will promote the economic development of
Pakistan and become a gateway for Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan,
Uzbekistan, linking Sri Lanka, Iran and Xinjiang to undertake marine transport.
Over $33 billion worth of energy infrastructure will be constructed by private
consortia to help alleviate Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages, which
regularly amount to over 4,500MW, and have shed an estimated 2-2.5% off
Pakistan’s annual GDP. With approximately $33 billion expected to be invested
in energy sector projects, power generation assumes an important role in the
CPEC project. Over 10,400 MW of energy generating capacity is to be developed
between 2018 and 2020 as part of the corridor’s fast-tracked “Early Harvest”
projects.
It
is reiterated that Gwadar is not only a vital link for CPEC but also connects
Industrialized Europe. Hydrocarbon Rich Middle East and energy Transporting
Indo-Pacific Region. Pakistan’s value for OBOR and CPEC is mainly because of it
being a littoral state at the mouth of Hurmoz strait. In order to improve its
strength in the region it will be relevant for Pakistan to remain viable for
OBOR and CPEC. At the time once regional and external regional players have
already indicated their concerns over these projects, it is further imperative
for Pakistan to assert more for success of these projects especially the CPEC.
Being a vital littoral state it is imperative for The Government of Pakistan to
have a deeper look in to its maritime affairs for a prudent maritime policy
formulation. Pakistan is blessed with 2,90,058 square kilometers of sea waters
and 1047 kilometers long coast. Annually about 36,000 ships sail through its
water that is about 40 per cent of total global ship sail. It is need of hour
to formulate a pragmatic ‘Pakistan Maritime Policy’ and knowledge about the
maritime matters will be the first step towards understanding, evaluation and
formulation of policy. Maritime institutions of Pakistan are endeavoring to
perform as per the global maritime environments; however, it is valued that
with improved governmental focus and patronage these institutions can come up
to futuristic emerging dynamics of global maritime domain.
So
for as the success of CPEC there is a dire need to speed up the development of
Gwadar Port and Gwadar City. It is valuable to provide basic needs like water
and power not only for the port and city but also for the planned expansion of
the port and Industry. Provision of Technical Training for port handling and
industrial development should be done by government under a pragmatic plan and
should not be left only to the voluntary efforts of Pakistan Army and Navy.
Considering the emerging opportunities in form of OBOR and CPEC, regional and
extra regional concerns, extension and exploration of EEZ and development of
maritime resources there is a dire need to equip the maritime institutions and
Pakistan Navy with advanced equipment including surveillance aircrafts and at
least two submarines having the capability to launch ballistic missile. The
capacity of Pakistan navy to defend the creeks needs to be enhanced by
providing better surveillance, mobility equipment and additional troops. With a
view to improve the maritime security government should focus on facets like
seaward awareness, prevention of any threat, protection and response to any
threat, defence realm, maritime campaign, maritime safety, dealing with natural
disaster. It is matter of pride to know that Pakistan Navy has been handed over
the command of multi-national naval maritime security and counter terrorism
collation named as Combined Task force – 150. TF-150 is one the three task
forces within the ambit of Combined Maritime Forces. The area of operation
spans over 2 million square miles, encompassing Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian
Ocean and Gulf of Oman.
It
is pertinent to mention that Malaysia has also expressed keen interest in
helping Pakistan develop projects, such as ferry service, port terminals and
industry at Gwadar Port Free Zone. A business delegation from Malaysia last
year in April, led by ex-premier Abdullah Badawi has expressed interest in
developing maritime project in Pakistan that would be integrated with the CPEC.
They expressed interest during a meeting with Pakistan’s Ports & Shipping
Minister, Mir Hasil Bizenjo. Malaysia’s potential cooperation in CPEC can
enhance the scope of development in areas that are to be catered under
industrial cooperation, through investment and expertise support, that will
create jobs for locals, enhance Pakistan’s export-oriented productivity.
It
can be concluded that when Gwadar seaport becomes fully operational, it would
connect the landlocked Central Asian states with rest of the world. Being the
commercial hub, the port is likely to increase volume of trade, bringing
multiple economic and financial benefits to Pakistan like the Suez Canal which
changed the destiny of Egypt when Israel returned it to the former. It will
enable high-volume cargo vessels to move in the major oceans. Gwadar project
which is backbone of the CPEC will uplift the impoverished people of
Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, including developments in other provinces by
providing thousands of employment opportunities, especially to the less
developed areas by redressing their grievances. The resulting prosperity in
Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan world damp the separatist sentiments of the
people which the hostile elements, supported by the US, India and Israeli do
not want. Therefore, their media describe the CPEC in negative terms. There is
dire need on part of Paksitani media instead of following the growing trend of
negative coverage of the CPEC in foreign media, it should propagate positively
the benefit of CPEC in order to thwart their malicious designs.
