Despite all promises and tall claims made by the government recently, the Public Sector Development Programme gives the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor less than its due share, as only Rs 76 billion have been allocated to the projects that come under the CPEC.
Dozens of projects under the CPEC being carried out by the Communication Division, Railways Division, Ports and Shipping Division and Water and Power Division have been earmarked funds of Rs 76 billion out of the Rs 800 billion in the second year of the project’s inception.
The prominent projects in the energy category is the construction of Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power project that will get Rs 61 billion and is the flagship project of CPEC-related energy projects.
In the roads and highways category, the Thakot-Havelian (construction and land acquisition) totaling at Rs 15 billion has been allocated Rs 5.65 billion for construction of Burhan-Havelian Expressway.
These projects are part of Northern Alignment under CPEC. The other projects include Rs 5 billion for Gwadar-Turbat-Hishab Section project, Rs 1.15 billion for rehabilitation of DI Khan-Mughal Kot 50 km section and many other highways and road projects.
The Gwadar Port projects have been allocated Rs 1.5 billion for fresh water treatment, supply and distribution, Rs 250 million for a Pak-China technical and vocational institute, Rs 250 million for infrastructure development, Rs 4.7 billion for construction of Eastbay Expressway and Rs 1.5 billion for new Gwadar airport.
The Railways Division has exclusively undertaken six development projects pertaining to CPEC. A sum of Rs 1.8 billion has been proposed for allocation in these projects. They include feasibility study to connect Gwadar with Karachi and Gwadar to Jacobabad. Rs 125 million have been allocated for the studies.
The doubling/improvement of existing track from Port Qasim to Bin Qasim station have been allocated Rs 1.168 billion. Rs 300 million have been earmarked for rehabilitation/ upgradation of ML-1 including acquisition of land for new dry port at Buldhair, Haripur district.
The Interior Ministry has also allocated Rs 1.3 billion for the provision of CPEC-related security projects. An amount of Rs 10 million for Pak-China Year for Friendly Exchanges Programme (CPEC) has also been allocated in the PSDP 2016-17.
