It is said that, 21st century is the century of Asia in terms of economic and political progress, center of socio-economic excellence is rapidly shifting from west to east and the eyes of economic and political thinkers stuck on this geographical area of the world, where countries like China, South Korea, Japan, Pakistan, India, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are in mainstream of economic boom to enter themselves in the competition to rule the world economic market. To bring strong economic and political harmony at global level, different countries are making bi-lateral agreements and invest their financial resources in others countries (especially with developing countries) at macro and meso level to achieve high level of economic consequences through collective efforts.
China is leading emerging economy of the world that jerks the economy of western world; China is also enhancing its economic radius towards other countries of Asia and Europe. China is consider as the Iron brother of Pakistan that support Pakistan in every thick and thin situation, China is the biggest strategic allay of Pakistan and its investment of about $50 billion in Pakistan, with the reference of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is telling the story of such economic, cultural and strategic alliance between both great nations. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a mega project that was offered by the Chinese President ‘Li Keqiang’ to the Prime Minister ‘Nawaz Sharif’ during his visit to Pakistan back in May 2013. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the 15 years project which includes several infrastructural and Industrial projects for the expansion of economy that contain Gwadar to Khushab 193 km highway, Gwadar to Chaman 110 km highway, Khushab to Suhrab 470 km highway, Gwadar sea port, Gwadar airport, Oil and gas pipelines, fiber lines, education institutes and other economic activities.
CPEC is called the game changer for Pakistan, according to Mushahid Husain Sayed (Chairman of parliamentary committee for CPEC), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is not a project of any one government, one political party, one province or any one Individual, it is a project of every one, of every Pakistani, and we cannot give permission to anyone to derail the process of this huge project. Where Pakistan gets multiple socio-economic opportunities through CPEC towards the way of economic progress with the courtesy of Chinese investment in Pakistan, China is having most of the benefits through this corridor to reach hot waters of Arabian sea for the sake of getting an easy root towards world market, In that case China minimize its transport root from 5500 km to 2200 km by reaching hot waters of Arabian sea through by-passing Pakistani territory from Khunjerab to Gwadar, this new root will save the transport length of Chinese exporters to the world market. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has different Economic, Political and Cultural aspects,
CPEC in the Economic context:
China-Pakistan Economic corridor is a symbol of economic integration between China and Pakistan that will bring both the countries towards historic landmark of regional prosperity that will enhance the radius of Chinese economic burst to world market with the courtesy of strategic alliance with Pakistan. CPEC is an eye catching project for the whole world because it will change the economic dimensions of our region, to analyze the far-flung results of CPEC, we should have to go through the whole process from top to bottom, because as we discover economic activities at macro level, some initial parts get ignored, we must have to think that, due to this huge project, how a common person in China and especially in Pakistan will be benefited, how much these economic activities will improve the lives of local residents who are living here in Pakistan and China along this economic path. Gwadar is center point of CPEC and it is said that, Gwadar will be the new economic capital of Pakistan that replace Karachi, but the question is that, will Gwadar port satisfy the local residents by giving them enough opportunities at micro level, will it change the life style of locals that sacrifice their fish harbors, fishing grounds, Ship yards in the way of economic corridor. As we analyze the future aspect of CPEC, it is really depends on the collaboration of both the countries at government level and most importantly the situation of law and order will play critical role on the way of achieving maximum economic benefits. We should also keep in mind the role of local residents for the next 5-7 years that how they contribute their part in the success of CPEC.
CPEC in the Political Context:
CPEC is a game of opportunities that will encourage both the states to ensure a strong bi-lateral reliability in the region, Pakistan as a state has its strategic and tactical importance in the world and its economic relation with China create hubbub in all around the world and to minimize the fast moving strategies of China, United states is also playing a strategic game named as ‘US-Asia pacific policy’ by making alliance with India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. This political movement at International scenario is showing the serious attention of other Nations towards CPEC. One thing is very important to discuss is the ‘National Interest’ of both Pakistan and China because, first they are Chinese then business investers then the friends of Pakistan and we are first Pakistanis then the friends of china, so we should be very clear on each perspective of Pakistan at propitiate level. From last few years the relationship between Pakistan and US become cold and it is said that Beijing is the new room for Pakistan that replace Washington D.C to build a strong political relations between both countries, now Islamabad and Beijing are getting closer to closer to give a strong message for their regional oppositions in the field of strategic alliance. Initially there was some concerns present by the opposition political parties in Pakistan on CPEC on the basis lack of transparency and un-equal distribution of benefits for all provinces, but latter on government representatives succeed to convince them through listening their valid concerns on CPEC and promise to resolve their reservations on the prior basis, that shows the strong determent of our political parties regarding China-Pakistan Economic corridor. The part of our military establishment on CPEC is also very vital in progressing multiple projects with in the whole country, the role of Frontier Workers Organization (FWO), NWFP Frontier corps, Pakistan Navy seals and Pakistan Army (440 brigade) is really determine towards the completion of CPEC that shows the positive civil-military understanding for the betterment of our country. The new era of civil-military relation was initiated by Naseer Khan Janjua and now this rare civil-military relationship is now carry on by general Amir Riaz and Sana Ullah Zehri that shows the sincerity form both the sides. Where CPEC is providing collective opportunities for China and Pakistan to step towards the economic participation, that also bring a bustle in some other neighbor countries of Asia to make economic allience with each other to compete China and Pakistan economic move, the biggest example of this bustle is the construction of chabahar port in Iran, India is interested to invest in chabahar port to minimize the importance of Gwadar port in the region. The future of CPEC looks very bright if the military-civil relations stay alive with the assurance of law and order in the region.
CPEC in the cultural context:
Pakistan is more culturally influenced by the western and American world, but now it’s time to understand the Chinese culture in economic, political, social and historic context. In past, the diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and China was held only at diplomatic level, now it is need to bring those relations at micro level to create more closer understandings of each other from both the countries, to bring cultural integrity between both the countries, it is very important to plan a people exchange programs that provide healthy opportunities for both the countries to visit each other’s territory and create mutual understanding with the reference of cultural exchange activities. There are some initiatives took by the both countries to provide enough opportunities for their citizens to know the language and other cultural values of friend country, in this initiative Pakistani government has launched many programs to teach Chinese language, , and in China there are Nine National Universities where Urdu language is included in courses for those students that are interested to learn Urdu language. Media is the most effective tool to transmit culture and to pool cultural information, by considering the importance of media in the process of China-Pakistan economic corridor the officials of China and Pakistan organized a media forum and launched first official website regarding CPEC that will update the viewer’s regarding the proceedings of this huge project. To value our culture we should expand our cultural value through economic references and show the world that you belongs to a very rich culture that will portray our identity in proud-full manner, sculpturally CPEC is really a beneficial platform for our Pakistanis to promote cultural values at global level.
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