Deprivation Sense On CPEC Projects A Cross-party Trend In Balochistan

Deprivation sense on CPEC projects a cross-party trend in Balochistan

Government has dismissed any speculation about revising CPEC projects or closing them. Some rather said the review was meant only in the context of involving Balochistan province

ISLAMABAD (Pakistan Point News / NNI - 19th February, 2019) Government has dismissed any speculation about revising CPEC projects or closing them. Some rather said the review was meant only in the context of involving Balochistan province.Yet lawmakers and key officials from that province, including those in the government, continue to protest at being ignored from decision-making corridors on CPEC. Most recently they asked questions about Saudi Arabia's potential investment in Balochistan.

Already, CPEC is at the crosshair of insurgents there.These were the major findings of CPEC Monitoring Brief released by Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think tank, covering the last quarter of last year.Ever since the new government came in office, there have been some media speculations about the direction CPEC will take. It was said the government might be revising CPEC projects but the government said it was to address the reservations of Balochistan's due share in CPEC.

Then, it was said the entire Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has military purpose too, especially under CPEC. This government rejected too. And third that CPEC will add into debt burden of Pakistan, a charge also denied.Of these, one issue refusing to die down is unequal distribution of projects in Pakistan. This is especially true for Balochistan. So much so that even the ruling party in the province, which otherwise have no love lost for the nationalists, have asked for their share in the province.

Even mainstream parties had sympathized with the demands of Balochistan parties.More recently, in Balochistan, local politicians have asked for the details of different projects, especially of Saudi Arabia, a willing investor in Balochistan. The central government underlined that it (KSA) is neither a strategic third partner of CPEC nor it shall enjoy the preferential treatment.Worst of all, in November last year, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) killed five CPEC workers in Gwadar, in addition to the targeting of Chinese consulate in Karachi.

The 8th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on CPEC was likely to solve the issue of due share of Balochistan, along with the western route under CPEC, implementation of Karachi Circular Railways (KCR), Keti Bandar, and Dhabeji Economic Zone in Sindh.At the same time, a three-month long fishermen's protest against the construction of East-Bay Expressway, continue, disrupting business in Gwadar. Meanwhile, Chinese investors are also concerned over delayed payments and warned of holding further investment in power sector.

Payments to Orange Line Metro project stakeholders have been delayed due to its revised cost.On the plus side, there are reports of economic growth under CPEC, if properly implemented. As per Chinese official reports, "out of 22 projects of $18.9 billion, total 11 projects have been completed, creating 75,000 direct jobs opportunities for locals, while, 22 more projects are in pipeline." NNI