Will we benefit?
There are two broad ways of looking at CPEC. One is that it was a project long in the making. Successive Pakistani governments had appreciated its potential, and when the Chinese initiative finally came Pakistan was naturally recognised as an essential corridor for the greater New Silk Route Project. Of course, it would be too much to say that PML-N was simply lucky to be in office at the time. But there is also another view, the PML-N’s view, which portrays the Corridor as the ruling party’s brainchild. It is almost as if the project would be incomprehensible if the N-league had not come to power, and the $46b bonanza is, in fact, its gift to the nation.
There is more truth in the first assumption than the second, to say the least. In ways CPEC came at a good time for the ruling party; just when it was struggling to justify a soft economy under a supposedly business friendly government. But in other ways the Sharifs must be credit for going after it with vigour, at least on the surface. Yet their own personal footprint on the project is increasingly also becoming a cause for concern.
Internal political confrontation – especially about the prime minister keeping his word about routes, etc, and shares of provinces – has now begun disturbing the Chinese, not just the local opposition. Beijing is now worrying that Pakistan might not be able to meet some crucial deadlines. And, again, since Pakistan is but one part of the overall project – albeit an integral part – falling behind the curve here can disrupt progress in other countries, which will not be without diplomatic fallout. The ruling party must immediately remove any ambiguity regarding the project. Provinces’ concerns must be addressed and the impression that the prime minister only keeps his close kitchen cabinet in the loop must be shed. Unless these steps are taken immediately, Pakistan might emerge the big winner from the Corridor as is being portrayed.