Turning a dream into reality

Being termed as a ‘game changer’ not only for Pakistan but the entire region ‘CPEC’ is in the process of speedy implementation, despite all the hue and cry being raised by vested interests. The $45billion Chinese investment coming into this gargantuan China-Pakistan venture has no parallel in China-Pakistan history of mutual cooperation. A huge investment of this magnitude has, in fact, never ever been made before in Pakistan by any affluent country of the world. In view of this fact CPEC will indeed be a dream come true, if successfully executed.

In spite of knowing the importance of this gigantic project and the mammoth contribution it, once completed, would make towards the economic growth of not only Pakistan but also that of the other countries of the region detractors of the project, from within and outside the country, are doing whatever they can to sabotage it. Vested groups from within the country are creating hurdles to retard the progress of the project. Pakistan’s ever-belligerent neighbor India too, for obvious reasons, does not want this project to see the light of the day. As usual, India seems to be deeply engrossed in finding ways and means to malign the project by raising undue hue and cry. One only wishes had India, for once, looked beyond its self- interest and focused on the larger interest of the region it would have brought the much desired economic stability not only to the countries of the region and Pakistan but also to India.

Yet another factor that seriously threats CPEC is terrorism. Security of the Chinese engaged in executing the project in different parts of the country is also a cause for major concern. Fortunately, this extremely vital issue is being well taken care of by the gallant Pakistan Army which has pledged to provide fool-proof security to the Chinese workforce working on different segments of the project at different locations.

Undeniably, the strong statement emanating from the distinguished Chief of the Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, during his visit to the headquarters of the newly raised Special Security Division (SSD) for the security of the CPEC that ‘the country’s security forces were fully aware of all campaigns against the corridor and are prepared to pay any price to turn the long-cherished dream of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into reality’. The army chief also reiterated the commitment of Pakistan Army to provide security for the project and the workforce involved, terming it a game changer having the potential to transform lives of people of the country. The same level of strength and conviction is also inordinately desired of the public representatives of the country. So far this cannot be seen. One only hopes and prays that they will rise above politics, for once, and sacrifice their personal and party interests in larger national interest. God forbid if this is not done the fruition of CPEC might become a distant dream.

M FAZAL ELAHI

Islamabad