Implementation at our end is the crucial part
During his five-day visit to China, Nawaz Sharif met President Xi Jinping, Prime Miniser Li Keqiang and heads and chief executives of financial institutions and corporate sector. The visit provided an opportunity to both sides to spell out their views regarding the region and vital issues like terrorism. They resolved to promote policies aimed at advancing the cause of peace, cooperation and harmony in the region. This alone, it was implied, could ensure better livelihood for their peoples. The two sides affirmed their support for an Afghan-led peace and vowed to work with the regional countries and the international community to help Afghanistan achieve stability and security. Nawaz committed Pakistan to support China’s efforts in combating extremism, terrorism and separatism.
The main item on Nawaz’s agenda was seeking Chinese investment in Pakistan’s energy sector. This was no easy task. In the past some of the power sector projects initiated with the Chinese help, like the 969 MW Neelum Jhelum project and 450 MW Nandipur project, could not be constructed on time due to negligence shown by the authorities in Pakistan. This sullied the country’s reputation. The visit has helped revive the two projects. It is not yet known if the PM succeeded in getting investment in any other energy sector project.
Things have moved on the construction of Lahore-Karachi Motorway which Sharif wants to be completed in less than three years. Some of the projects being envisaged would take years before their foundation stones are laid. The bullet train costing $20 million per km is more of a pipedream than a practical proposal that can be implemented anytime in near future. One of the eight MoUs signed was to build the 2,000-kilometre road and rail link connecting the northwestern city of Kashgar to Gwadar port. The decisive factor in speeding up the project would be the urgency of the Chinese need for the economic corridor. Much more feasible would be to start with the upgrading and realigning of the 1,300km Karakoram highway running from Kashgar to Abbottabad. From Havelian the goods can be transferred to railways to be carried onward to Karachi, or sent to Gwadar. Another agreement is for a fiber-optic cable to be laid from the Chinese border to Rawalpindi. All these projects would require an end to militancy in the area through which the road and rail link and the cable have to pass. For this the government would have to pay urgent attention to eliminating the militant threat.
Scores of MoUs have been signed between Pakistan and China in the past but only a small percentage was implemented. The PM has promised to set up a cell in his office to supervise the joint projects. Only time will tell whether the arrangement makes much of a difference!
After reading the article, I realised the Government would do something better for the purpose of the prosperity of the country. The government must implement these projects. China is an economic giant, so Pakistan must benefit from it. Any negligence of the government can prove sully of the nation and country.
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