CPEC GWADAR:

HISTORY:

The idea of CPEC has a history as the dialogues of bridging Pakistan’s deep-water ports on Arabian Sea with Chinese Border began in1950s. The construction of Karakoram Highway and Gwadar in 2006 was a part of this notion. The formal talks on CPEC and its initial sketch were materialized in the Parvez Musharraf’s era but could not progress on the grounds of political instability. Zardari’s led, Pakistan People’s Party’s government proposed it again, although it was formally launched during Nawaz Sharif’s led Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)’s government in 2015.

Why did China specifically invest in Pakistan? and how much invest in Pakistan?

•    The China-Pakistan Economic corridor, commonly known as CPEC is the bystander of the finest friendly relationship between Pakistan and China.
•    It is a fateful project under which a huge network of roads and highways, infrastructure and energy sector related construction is under progress, costing $46 billion, invested by People’s Republic of China in Pakistan.
•    This project is often subjected as a strategic game changer for Pakistan’s economy along with entire region.
•     CPEC is an extravagant extension of China’s maestro ideology of One Belt, One Road.
•   OBOR is a proposition objected to connect with different countries through road and railway network to revel in massive trade breaks There are total 6 corridors that have to be built under OBOR stratagem of China from which CPEC is one of them.
•    CPEC embraces a significant scope in China’s 13th five-year plan. According to estimations, China imports 60% of the total oil of Middle East countries. It has to use a longer route that costs China a huge amount of money and time. Excessive travelling costs and delivery time provide a major break to China’s competitors in trade that may include Japan, USA etc.
•    It hampers China’s performance to compete in global market arena. This economic corridor is designed to connect Pakistan through its Gwadar Port to the autonomous region of Xinjiang in the North-West China through the huge road, highway and railway networks. It will also connect Pakistan to the fast growing and vibrant markets of Middle East, Africa and Europe; and will generate enormous trade opportunities for the country.
•   CPEC divides into two routes, Eastern and Western, from Islamabad Motorway (M1) that connect Gwadar Port to Western region of China. The network of roads and highways through both the routes do not only connect Gwadar Port with China but also renovate the intramural road map of Pakistan.
•     Using the CPEC route for its oil imports from middle east and for trade of other goods, China can save a huge chunk of time and money.
•    This is the main reason for China to invest in a country like Pakistan that is already facing enormous challenges within country and on its border line too.
•   The significance of CPEC is remarkable as its impacts on development and growth of both the countries, Pakistan and China, will change the fate of entire region. Its socioeconomic impacts on Pakistan have started to emerge with the generation of employment opportunities for its citizens though.

 Full capacity of Gwadar port:

Gwadar port is being built in phases. When completed, it will have three 200-meter-long berths and one Ro-Ro (roll on-roll off) facility. At present the port has the capacity to handle 50,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) bulk carriers drawing up to 12.5 meters.

Balochistan region:

The CPEC has not benefited the people of Balochistan while people of other provinces enjoy the fruits of the mega project. This has led to widespread protests as the Chinese are viewed as encroachers who are squeezing out all the wealth from the region. This has resulted in a surge in the deadly attacks by Baloch separatists on CPEC facilities.

Balochistan has been at the crossroad of conquerors and invaders throughout the ages. The strategic importance of corridor cannot be fully gauged without analyzing to that with perspective of the province of Baluchistan. Balochistan itself carries huge amount of minerals and natural resources such as oil and gas . In analyzing it clash of interests between the following must be looked into:

•       Iran

•       Afghanistan

•       India

•       China

•       America

•       Europe, Russia& Japan

        Pakistan desperately needs to pay attention to improve security situation to fully attract Chinese counterpart and exploit to the fullest the true potential of the corridor. Due to security problem, China withdrew its investments worth $12 billion from Gwadar in 2009.  Law and order situation can be major impediment to develop this corridor.

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