Hailing a revolution
The dream has come true. The new great game began between Kashgar and Gwadar. Chinese goods could reach from Kashgar in thirteen days for upward transfer via ships to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The litmus test was successful. The caravan reached speedily and safely.
It portrayed the peaceful image of Pakistan. This is the change of the old game. The new game of trade is between China and Pakistan. They have written new history. This year is “1869” for Pakistan when 147 years ago Suez Canal was inaugurated, making a direct and short route between Asia and Europe. It was a revolution in shipping route.
On 13 November, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif kicked off the ground-making ceremony of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at Gwadar Port. The CPEC is the life blood of Pakistan. It is not just a set of arteries of roads within Pakistan and links between Gwadar and Kashgar, it is a network of the economy of Pakistan in the 21st century.
It has initiated a revolution, a direct link between Kashgar and Gwadar and bringing China on the mouth of the Arabian Sea as the most merchandise nation in the world. The inauguration of the CPEC was a real ”watershed” as pointed out by Prime Minister Sharif. The consistent and vigorous pursuit by Government has made the CPEC to become a reality. Political leadership and the army Chief Raheel Sharif together with Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong witnessed the inauguration. Prime Minister Sharif termed the inauguration a ”momentous movement” and indeed it was.
Two vessels were loaded with over 150 containers and they were off to the Middle East and African countries. The CPEC caravan reached in thirteen days from Kashgar to Gwadar. The time would be further reduced when modern network and roads facilities will be provided. This hailed a revolution.
Gwadar is the crown in the jewel of the One Belt One Road and the project is just inaugurated after it was formally launched some 18 months ago when President Xi Jinping visited Islamabad on 20-21 April last year. The early inauguration of the CPEC is the resolve of the hardworking Chinese sprit and Pakistani dedication of closely cooperating with Pakistan.
The inauguration is the biggest wonder of the 21st century. Both nations have discovered a new trading route for sharing prosperity not only between them but almost for the entire world. This kind of breakthrough is only possible in centuries. A true friendship could do that.
The inauguration is a monument of the all-weather friendship between the two countries. Now no one can stop Pakistan entering into comity of prosperity and becoming an ”Asian Tiger” with the help of an Asian joint. The tiger vassals have sailed off. Gwadar has become an international hub-port. It is unmatchable.
Now there are two backbones of Pakistan’s economy: the mighty Indus River and CPEC. Like the Indus ricer, CPEC would be eternal and guarantees the sustainability of the economy of Pakistan.
The Indian propaganda and artificial mistrust spread by some political parties in the country are designed to malign Pakistan’s friendship with China. Pakistan has never paid any price for its friendship with China. It always comes to assist Pakistan. After country’s defence became un-conquerable, China is now converting Pakistan’s economy unmatchable by changing the natural geography of trade long existed between the two countries.
A new chapter of geo-economic has been written with China as the core author of the script elevating Pakistan as the beneficiary. This is a new outlet for the economy of Pakistan when the country faces so many hurdles and barriers in trade expansion. A new direction has been given. Pakistanis should be wise enough to understand the kind gesture of the Chinese people for their well being.
Anti-CPEC propaganda orchestrated by some political groups should come to an end. Enough is enough. It is not disgraceful for us that the Chinese Ambassador at Islamabad requested the leader of a political party not to perturb CPEC just few weeks ago. It should be our collective responsibility to work out for the early implementation of the CPEC that would change our life in our time.
Government also needs to take stern actions against those anti-CPEC propagandists who have been sponsored by India and some other intelligence agencies. The Khuzdar incident is a case in point that was engineered a day before CPEC was inaugurated to discourage the great opening.
The opening of the CPEC sent out a strong message to anti-propagandists and they could easily see a new turning point in Pakistan-China friendship and that CPEC has become a reality.
