Fazal Ameen Kakar
It was called a game Changer for the region but will CPEC change the future? When people from different cities of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) came to known that CPEP is coming through Khunjrab via Gilgit to KP and will complete its destination in Gwadar they thought the deprivations of people will eliminate once we experience the economic corridor with different aspects. People were happy with different ideas in their minds and were looking for the better tomorrow.
The Corridor will bring Economic Stability, Industrial Zones, Fiber optics, Railway Tracks, Motorway lots more for the people of Balochistan as mention in early agreements between China and Pakistan. They were eager of peaceful and Prosperous Balochistan and ignored what had government done with them in past.
However When Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif Inaugurated a single road in Zhob which was earlier approved by Asian Development Bank (ADB) then People realized how a single road which was funded by ADB can be part of CPEC. Common people from different cities raise the Question and stand up against the policy of government for the people of Balochistan with the help of social media; masses came outside and held protests all over in Balochistan.
They people of KP called for seminar and invited All Baloch and Pashtun leaders to resolve the issues with sincerity and the government should accept the rights of Balochistan in CPEC. The Government along side with Pashtun and Baloch Nationalists called for the APC in which Government assured them to accept their demand. They believed that they agreed with the dual policy of Government as government already started work on different Project of CPEC on Eastern Route. Now, people even do not have pure water for drinking in Gwadar and how they claim that Gwadar will emerge as the next top business port of the world.
In a recent Statement issued by the Interior Ministry, there are 330 Projects in CPEC the Lions Share will definitely go for the people of Punjab as always they did like a big brother. 176 Projects are in Punjab while eight projects have been allocated for Balochistan.
In earlier days of agreement between China and Pakistan everybody was thinking about how much Balochistan will be stable and prosperous once the CPEC will start functioning. Now it’s observed that the eastern route has been started with full energy and complete spirit while the Standing Committee of Senate for communication has announced that there is even not a single road started in Balochistan on western route.
Is there any hope for any Economic Zone in Balochistan? The lion’s Share has been allocated for the Punjab now its serious issue with the rulers who have adopted a double standard for people of Balochistan. Will this policy bring peace, stability and economic zone in Balochistan? Will they see the Completion of Western Route? Will they benefit from Fiber optics? Will they travel via Motorway and Railway through Western Route? The expected answer for most of these question is NO.
The Writer is Native of Zhob Balochistan and Studying in Punjab University Lahore.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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