Beware of propaganda against CPEC

Use of the project as a political tool is unfortunate

As China is making all efforts to reach the world via the much talked China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the international players are trying to destabilise the project. Besides patronising the elements working to destabilise the project, the international powers have started a propaganda war to distort the image of the multi-billion dollar project. Unfortunately, some political elements are trying to paint the negative picture of CPEC because of their vested interests. The war of interests and public opinion shaping is going to be fought. The need of the hour, however, is to put the CPEC in an exact context so that the people of Pakistan may get the exact idea about the importance of the project.

A lot of propaganda is in the air regarding the routes and the economic impact of CPEC. After the Chinese ambassador stated clearly that the Western Route is part of the plan and construction of the route has already begun, rationality suggests that the debate and politics of western route should come to an end now. Yet there are some concerns which the government really needs to address. For instance, if the Nawaz administration in general and the planning commission in particular had publicised the projects or even published a document describing the declassified parts of the project instead of keeping the details secret, the propaganda machines would have certainly found it difficult to dent the image of CPEC—regrettably, doing this appears to be quite easy in the current circumstance.

Nonetheless, India, owing to its historical background, would not stop maligning and hindering the projects by pulling strings of its string dolls in Pakistan. However, both Pakistan and China are well aware of this fact and, hopefully, are planning well in order to deal with the enemies of the project. However, immediate attention is still needed with regard to the diminishing public support for the project, particularly in Southern KPK, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan.

It is important to note that CPEC is China’s flagship project of its greater initiative, OBOR (One Belt One Road). Hence it is even more important for China to see the CPEC become a success story. And for this, China doesn’t seem to ignore any nook and corner. It worries those global and regional powers which intend to contain and encircle China. Many strategies and tactics like String of Pearls and Indian growth as the US’ mentee in the region to check Chinese power are operational. The CPEC in the middle of all is a real headache for all of them. Every strategist and international relations experts know that CPEC’s success and Chinese encirclement are inversely proportional. If CPEC (and OBOR) wins, the encirclement of China is destined to fail.

Hence the finances, pressures, lobbying, and propagandas are in full swing. There is nothing new in saying that even in these free times the sources and structures, which give information and shape the public opinion on the basis of their own propagated information, are one of the most effective tools. And it’s an open secret that most of those tools are in control of the US and its allies. It is therefore not difficult for them to malign, spread misinformation and create a negative image of the project.

Although the CPEC is now in the mainstream politics, it is unfortunately burdened with terrorism and instability. Not only has Pakistan to deal with the global and regional propagandas but also with the domestic problems related to the project. Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some northern areas of Pakistan—which were already facing problems of law and order, poor governance, terrorism, ethnic violence, separatism, and sectarianism—have to face this new wave of opposition as the CPEC project progresses.

All the aforementioned problems can only be solved if the citizens residing in those areas are happy with their lives and this is only possible if the basic life facilities are available and accessible for everyone. Projects under the CPEC will grow in number and thus create opportunities. Jobs and businesses will progress. Economic activity is expected to trickle down the benefits of progress and wellbeing to all the strata of society, in the context of CPEC, should be viewed as an opportunity. Residents of Baluchistan, KPK, and GB need to understand that economic and infrastructure development is the only thing that will bring prosperity in their areas.

This use of CPEC as a tool of domestic political gains is unfortunate. The ruling party is giving an impression that CPEC is only possible with its (PML-N’s) vision and planning implemented. This notion, whether right or wrong, has given rise to reactionary statements from the KPK government of PTI (Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf). The anti-CPEC campaign does not stop here. The government links every opposition voice with destabilisation of democracy and propaganda against CPEC. This may give a hint to the Chinese government that the PML-N government is necessary for successful completion of the project. Yet it is coupled with reaction from all provinces and ethnicities of Pakistan, which inevitably contributes to negative perception about CPEC. So what is the remedy? PML-N has to stop using CPEC as its political bait, in greater national interest. Other political parties also need to play a positive role in this regard because Pakistan needs a consensus among all stake holders to avoid discussion on CPEC for domestic political gains. Conclusively, CPEC is going to be a game changer for the region with the majority of its benefits for the people of Pakistan.