Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan held a series of meetings with leaders of China’s leading state-owned and private companies in Beijing. (Photo: Twitter@PakPMO)
However, both sides have so far been unable to make progress on the much-delayed multibillion-dollar project of Mainline-1 (ML-1) despite making efforts, as the financing agreement has not yet been firmed up yet, reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan and China are all set to sign different agreements worth $10-15 billion during the ongoing visit of Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan to China, including rollover of $4 billion deposits, fresh loan of $4 billion, and other projects, The News reported.
However, both sides have so far been unable to make progress on the much-delayed multibillion-dollar project of Mainline-1 (ML-1) despite making efforts, as the financing agreement has not yet been firmed up yet.
Pakistan’s federal cabinet has also granted approval for signing of much-awaited industrial cooperation between the two countries under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Pakistan Prime Minister
Imran Khan
attending the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Bird’s Nest, Beijing. (Photo: Twitter@PakPMO)
“Pakistani authorities are expecting that the ongoing visit of PM Imran Khan will pave the way for boosting bilateral relations and minimum size of cooperation will be over $10 billion,” official sources confirmed to The News on Friday.
While the parties are proactively promoting, facilitating and executing the long-term industrial development plan, the CPEC is a framework of regional connectivity, infrastructure development, and industrial cooperation which will not only benefit the parties but also have a positive impact in the region.
China has advantages and expertise in technology, financing, and industrial capacity, while Pakistan enjoys favourable conditions in natural resources, adequate labour manpower, quality infrastructure, access to the international markets and optimal policies for industrial development, the report said.
Pakistan rushes more troops to Balochistan as rights movement spreads wings.(Photo:IN)
In the recent meeting with China’s envoy Nong Rong and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bajwa, Pakistan reiterated its strong commitment to providing full security to the Chinese workers…reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan’s Punjab home department has deployed 11,225 security personnel in the province in an attempt to protect Chinese nationals working on Beijing’s multi-billion dollars projects in the country.
The security personnel includes Army, Rangers, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Special Branch representatives, police and departmental security, the News International reported, adding that the personnel are for the protection of 3,355 Chinese nationals working on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects and non-CPEC projects.
Citing sources, the Pakistani publication reported that in CPEC projects, 665 Chinese nationals are working at hydropower project, Karot, Rawalpindi, 303 Chinese nationals working at Sahiwal Coal-fired Power project, 12 Chinese working at Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur, 59 Chinese at Karachi-Lahore Motorway Project and 50 Chinese are working at 660 KV Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line.
In the recent meeting with China’s envoy Nong Rong and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bajwa, Pakistan reiterated its strong commitment to providing full security to the Chinese workers and ensuring that there will be a “safe and secure environment” for employees of all CPEC projects. (ANI)
Imran Khan will visit China from February 3 to February 5 during which he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and meet Chinese leaders….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to visit China next month to reinforce their strategic ties and to advance economic and trade relations between the two countries.
This China visit, which is taking place after nearly two years, will provide an opportunity for both sides to have a look at the state of bilateral cooperation and discuss more projects.
“The visit will reinforce the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between our two countries, and further advance the objective of building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era,” said Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar at a media briefing.
Imran Khan will visit China from February 3 to February 5 during which he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and meet Chinese leaders.
Aside from these engagements, media reports are saying that Imran Khan is expected to be used to seek a USD 10 billion loan from China, request for payments for trade and revival of Pak-China Investment Company Ltd.
The Pak PM would try to leverage his trip to seek funding for improvement in social sectors and industrial development to show his achievements back home, before the upcoming elections in the country.
Imran Khan’s visit comes at a time when the Pakistan economy is currently facing a severe financial crisis. Pakistani people are losing faith in the ruling PTI government due to inflation, depreciation of its currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
Moreover, the PTI is also facing a credibility crisis as Chinese assistance in CPEC is not bringing the economic and social transformation in the country as it was projected.
Amid these immense challenges, experts believe that even if China gives an assurance of USD 10 billion of additional loans, it would only add to Pakistan’s debt stock and service obligations.
Promoting CPEC despite fading belief
After dealing with China for many years Pakistan’s ruling elite has discovered that it cannot replace the US, meanwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team continue to promote the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor terming it “beneficial to the country”, said Dr Shabir Choudhry in his blog.
The Pakistanis believe that China is a good neighbour with some common interests with Islamabad, and that relationship should continue, but Pakistan’s ruling elite has many more things in common with America and the West.
China has been involved in the development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea as part of a USD 60 billion CPEC under Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure project. According to Dr Choudhry, a writer and an activist from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), China with its military and economic power will not let the CPEC die, as it is fundamental to the success of the BRI.
It must be noted that the BRI is very carefully planned and ruthlessly executed by China to achieve its ambition of becoming a great military and economic power which enables it to call economic, military and strategic shots in certain areas of the world.
“Now, Imran Khan and his team are propagating that the CPEC is beneficial to Pakistan and that they will start the CPEC with new determination. Also, they will restart the “one window” service for all the CPEC operations, which was established by Nawaz Sharif. In view of the Pakistani analysts, Beijing is not inclined to meet Imran Khan or discuss anything related to the CPEC. The best the Chinese leadership can do is to “honour Pakistan” by having a photo session with Imran Khan,” Dr Shabir Choudhry wrote on January 27.
The blogger also said that it will be foolish for Pakistan to put all eggs in Beijing’s basket, which has different culture, aspirations and future ambitions, as that may not be inconsonant with the lifestyle, culture and agenda of the ruling elite of the country.
He pointed out that two major attacks last year angered the Chinese, one was the attack on a bus carrying the Chinese workers from the Dasu hydropower plant in July 2021. The other incident was an attack on a hotel in Quetta in April, where the Chinese envoy was also staying during his visit to Balochistan.
China was furious that their workers, despite many promises of fool proof security, were not safe in Pakistan. They demanded better security arrangements and compensation for the killed and injured employees. Pakistan, in principle, has agreed to pay compensation for the dead and injured employees, but no compensation plan is finalised yet.
However, in a recent meeting with Nong Rong, China’s envoy, General Bajwa reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to provide full security to the Chinese workers, and ensure that there will be a “safe and secure environment” for employees of all CPEC projects. (ANI)
Ever since the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) began, the Chinese nationals are being targeted….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan’s description of the issue of compensation to Chinese nationals who died at the worksite of the Dasu Hydropower Project on 14 July last year, as ‘irritant’, is raising many speculations.
The recent nod by Pakistan to pay compensation appears to be a case of a Chinese firm, whether Government or private, exercising arm-twisting, with the Chinese authorities leaning on Islamabad, according to analysts, reported Hongkong Post.
Ever since the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) began, the Chinese nationals are being targeted.
In certain areas, such as Balochistan, Pakistanis have targeted the Chinese to convey a message that the CPEC benefits China solely and provides no jobs for the local populace, reported Islam Khabar.
Additionally, China’s angst over the slow pace of CPEC projects and the overall suspicion within Pakistan that it has become a client state of China is gaining much momentum.
This tussle between the countries and the simmering tensions raises questions whether the compensation for the Chinese nationals who lost lives in Dasu attack is genuine or merely a blackmail.
One recent report in The News suggests that there could over five million Chinese in Pakistan by 2025.
According to Islam Khabar, If this count continues Pakistan will soon become a province of China.
Furthermore, It is estimated that currently there are over 100,000 Chinese nationals living and working in Pakistan.
Notably, Pakistan is paying for the health of Chinese workers living in their own country, when they are unable to look after the health of their own people.
Recently, Nong Rong, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had met at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The regional security situation, matters of mutual interest, and measures to further enhance bilateral cooperation were discussed during the meeting, reported Geo News citing Inter-Service Public Relation (ISPR) as saying in a statement on Wednesday.
Islamabad remains committed to cooperating with its international partners for peace in the region, said Bajwa during his meeting with Rong.
The Chinese envoy also appreciated Islamabad for special measures taken to protect the China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Pakistan, according to ISPR. Wang also reaffirmed the need for timely completion of the remaining projects.
The meeting took place as experts have raised concerns that CPEC the ambitious project of Beijing and Islamabad, has been trapped in Pakistan’s worsening security situation, the rise of terror attacks in the country, and internal protests in Gwadar leading to slow progress of the project which has been disappointing Beijing.
The CPEC’s northern end, where China has heavily invested in infrastructure that is already operational, the return of the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan has raised prospects of threats from terror groups. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) are getting active not far from the route. While the Afghan Taliban are fighting the IS-K, the Imran Khan government is desperately seeking to reach a peace deal with the TTP, said a report by Geopolitica. (ANI)
The CPEC project has been in limbo since last year owing to attacks on Chinese nationals. China had repeatedly expressed its displeasure with Pakistan over lax security…writes Rahul Kumar
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Nong Rong met Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday to discuss the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), work on which has all but stopped due to security issues and Pakistan’s inability to pay Chinese companies.
The meeting comes ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s upcoming three-day visit to China from Feb 3-5 to attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics and hold bilateral talks.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the meeting was held at Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The CPEC project has been in limbo since last year owing to attacks on Chinese nationals. China had repeatedly expressed its displeasure with Pakistan over lax security. An attack on Chinese engineers near the Dasu hydropower plant at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in July 2021 killed nine Chinese after which China stopped work on the project.
‘US, India make attempts to manoeuvre Pak out of CPEC’
In another serious attack, Baloch nationalists targeted a hotel in Quetta in April 2021 where Nong Rong was staying.
Besides these two attacks, many Chinese nationals have been attacked in other cities in Pakistan as local communities feel frustrated with exploitative CPEC projects.
In a bid to placate China, Islamabad has agreed to compensate the Chinese workers killed and injured in the Dasu attack. However, for many months a Pakistani committee tasked with fixing a suitable compensation could not take a decision, leading to complete stoppage of the project.
Gen Bajwa assured the Chinese ambassador of Pakistan’s commitment to providing full security to Chinese projects and citizens in Pakistan.
Besides the adverse security situation for the Chinese nationals, another major hurdle in the CPEC projects has been the non-payment of dues to Chinese power companies. Pakistan owes nearly Rs 230 billion to Chinese companies for producing power under the CPEC projects. Owing to a dire financial crisis, Pakistan has been holding the payments from 2018, despite giving assurances to China.
Strong, and often violent opposition, to the project by local communities too has resulted in negative publicity and halt of work. The financially ambitious project continues to face the ire of Baloch nationalist groups as well as local people.
Mass agitation in Gwadar port city of Balochistan put the spotlight on how the CPEC projects have not only not created local jobs but in fact hindered the livelihoods of people.
Beijing has not only stopped work on the various CPEC projects but has also not made any commitments about other rail and road projects. Owing to slow place of work and also because of safety reasons, the CPEC in Balochistan is under stress.
The ISPR said in the statement that the Chinese ambassador was satisfied with the “progress on CPEC and reaffirmed the need for timely completion of the remaining projects.” The two also discussed regional security, especially in the context of Afghanistan where the Taliban took over in mid-August after the departure of US and NATO troops.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
The dangerous mix of militant groups is working in both, collusion and at cross-purpose at the same time, to suit their immediate plans have endangered the Corridor …reports Asian Lite News
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the ambitious project of Beijing and Islamabad, has trapped into Pakistan’s worsening security situation, the rise of terror attacks in the country and domestic unrest leading to slow progress of the project which has been disappointing Beijing, said a report.
China has been expressing its disappointments to Islamabad as the latter has been continuously failing to provide complete security to the project and the people involved in it.
Even Islamabad is facing rising unrest and protests from locals in Balochistan, Gwadar and other areas as they accuse the government of depriving them of basic amenities and rights.
The CPEC’s northern end, where China has heavily invested in infrastructure that is already operational, the return of the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan has raised prospects of threats from terror groups. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) are getting active not far from the route. While the Afghan Taliban are fighting the IS-K, the Imran Khan government is desperately seeking to reach a peace deal with the TTP, said a report by Geopolitica on Saturday.
The dangerous mix of militant groups is working in both, collusion and at cross-purpose at the same time, to suit their immediate plans have endangered the Corridor, the report said.
The CPEC’s southern end witnessed recurring protests in Gwadar port that Beijing planned, funded, built and now operates as its principal gateway into the Indian Ocean to ensure speedy fuel supplies from the Gulf nearby, has tied both Beijing and Islamabad in an unenviable fix, the report added.
Thousand of ‘nationalists’ have ‘disappeared’ (detained by intelligence agencies), or have been killed in Balochistan as they speak for their rights and oppose the federal government’s policies which ignore locals.
Maulana Hedayatur Rahman, a cleric of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), led the recent Gwadar protests.
Chinese men start arming themselves at CPEC project sites in Pak
Rehman stuck to the political and economic demands of the local Balochs and held back his party’s own agenda. The JI leader was able to carry along the Baloch ‘nationalist’ groups. People, including women, not only from Gwadar port city but from nearby districts of Balochistan converged by the thousands and stayed on for a month, said the Geopolitica report.
This was the biggest protest movement in Gwadar, a sleepy port town, gained prominence as a city with a modern port. Analysts believe there has been development, but the same has not generated jobs and resources for the local populace, fuelling simmering anger, the report added. However, the protests seemed to make disappoint China as such domestic issues led to a halt in the progress of the CPEC works.
However, the experts have been doubtful about Pakistan’s willingness and its ability to meet these demands in foreseeable future to the satisfaction of the protestors. But in an attempt to silence the protests, Islamabad has sought time to meet their demands.
Beijing has heavily invested in the CPEC as a short route that allows it to avoid the circuitous Gulf of Malacca and the South China Sea region, noted experts. However, the emerging deteriorating security scenario in the Af-Pak region, through which the CPEC traverses, could jeopardise Beijing’s long-term plans in the region and beyond, according to Geopolitica. (ANI)
Pakistani and Chinese officials held meetings of the two Joint Working Groups on Gwadar and Socio-Economic Development through video conferencing equipment….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan and China have resolved to redouble efforts to tap full potential of the Gwadar port and free zone and to ensure that the local population fully benefits from the projects launched in various sectors, Dawn news reported.
Pakistani and Chinese officials held meetings of the two Joint Working Groups on Gwadar and Socio-Economic Development through video conferencing equipment, the Planning Ministry in Islamabad said in a statement.
One of the meetings underlined the need for finalising the Marketing and Investment Plan for Free Zone along with its implementation strategy. The meeting was informed that the plan would soon be submitted for consideration to the Cabinet Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The sixth session of the Joint Working Group on Gwadar was co-chaired by Pakistan secretary for planning, development and special initiatives Abdul Aziz Uqaili and Ying Xiong, the director general of the National Development and Reforms Commission of China, the Dawn news report said.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of the CPEC projects in Gwadar and deliberated upon the future course of action with regard to development of the city, port and the free zone, said the Ministry statement.
Both the sides expressed satisfaction over steady progress made on various projects, including full operationalisation of the Gwadar port and its inclusion in the Afghan Transit Trade route; finalisation of the Smart Port City Master Plan; completion of the Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute; substantial progress on Eastbay Expressway; commencement of work on New Gwadar International Airport and the Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital.
The meeting noted that the project called Gwadar Free Zone Phase-1 had been successfully completed, while work on the bigger Phase-II, covering an area of 2,221 acres, had been started, the report added.
Representatives of several Chinese enterprises, including Zhejiang DRC, China Communication Construction Company, Zhejiang Seaport and Huazhang Technology, made presentations during the meeting on their planned investments in the Low Carbon Recycling Park, within the Gwadar Free Zone.
The Pakistani side assured the potential investors of full support and cooperation for their ventures.
The session noted that despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions, the projects in Gwadar were implemented at a steady pace.
The meeting also took note of various operational issues faced by the projects during the course of the year, the Dawn news report added.
The meeting was also apprised that the government of Pakistan was actively implementing various projects, in close collaboration with the provincial government, to ensure provision of all the necessary facilities in Gwadar.
Such projects include linking Gwadar to the national electricity grid; provision of water to Gwadar city from nearby dams; establishment of the University of Gwadar and Gwadar Safe City project and certain other projects in the socio-economic domain, the report said.
With Pakistan unable to iron out systemic issues to allow smooth working of Chinese companies, and not in a position to honour its financial commitments, Beijing has slowed down investment on the flagship CPEC-part of its global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)…writes Rahul Kumar
Pakistan is giving more time to China to build power plants, as key infrastructure projects-the icons of the mega China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) face big delays.
The timeline for five projects-Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, Karot Hydropower Project, Tel project at Thar block-II, Thal Nova Thar block-II and Thar block-I have been extended, says The Express Tribune.
The projects have a combined power producing capacity of 3,600 MW.
The fourth Pak-China Relations Steering Committee meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Asad Umar on Wednesday, took the decision to extend the deadline due to slowdown of work, covid-related delays and strikes.
The committee found that not just power projects, but even road projects have been delayed. Work on the Quetta-Zhob Road project had been halted under orders from the Islamabad High Court while the Karakoram Highway Thakot-Raikot also remained stopped.
‘US, India make attempts to manoeuvre Pak out of CPEC’
Other issues holding up CPEC projects include delays in visa processing for Chinese nationals. The committee said that Pakistan is holding up the visa applications of nearly 90,000 Chinese nationals. Chinese companies have told the Pakistan government that their employees should be provided work visas instead of business visas which lead to penalties and bans on Chinese citizens.
Individual Chinese companies have run into policy hurdles of different kinds. Many firms have paid for electricity and gas connections but have not received the services despite months of delay. Other companies have applied for allotment of land but have not been given clearance.
Despite an iron-clad partnership in almost all spheres of their relationship, the two allies face a multitude of challenges in implementing CPEC projects. The $62 billion CPEC includes power generation projects, road and rail networks, industrial parks, special economic zones as well as the construction of the multi-use Gwadar port in Balochistan.
China is also providing financing for the projects, which entails high interest rates and overhead charges that include debt servicing and guaranteed returns for Chinese companies. Pakistan has been unable to pay these extraordinarily high returns to Chinese companies complicating relations between the government and Chinese firms.
Another roadblock that Pakistan is unable to surmount is the non-payment of nearly $1.4 billion, equivalent of Rs 230 billion, to Chinese power companies for the electricity generated under CPEC projects. In September, Planning Minister Asad Umar had said that the government was looking at ways to clear $1.4 billion owed to the Chinese power producers.
That payment has not been made till now partly because Pakistan is unable to recover adequate dues from retail consumers. Also, Pakistan wants to renegotiate the terms of contract and guarantees with Chinese power companies as it finds these to be on the higher side.
With Pakistan unable to iron out systemic issues to allow smooth working of Chinese companies, and not in a position to honour its financial commitments, Beijing has slowed down investment on the flagship CPEC-part of its global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Other reasons for Beijing’s unhappiness include security. Chinese nationals have faced several attacks, including the targeting of Chinese ambassador Nong Rong in April at the Serena hotel in Balochistan’s capital Quetta. Chinese nationals told the BBC that they live in fear as they had to face attacks in many Pakistani cities.
Earlier this year, militants attacked a convoy of Chinese engineers, killing nine of them working on the Dasu hydropower project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which gave another excuse to Chinese firms to stop work. Chinese firms want compensation for their dead employees, which has not been settled by Pakistan as yet.
Even though Pakistan is putting up a brave front on the CPEC projects, not all is well either on the projects or in the diplomatic domain. In November, Pakistan had requested China to restart work on the stalled CPEC projects, but there has been no response from China or its companies till now.
China seems to be in no mood to relent till Pakistan coughs up the money. With the Pakistani economy dwindling, the CPEC is beginning to look like a sinking ship for both Beijing and Islamabad.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Pashtuns in Balochistan in revolt against Islamabad as ethnic nationalism in Pakistan soars.(photo:IN)
Baloch people feel that CPEC activities have robbed them of their dignity in their own land and are annoyed with their own government, reports Rahul Kumar
People in Balochistan resent the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for degrading their lives in their own country. They feel that CPEC activities have robbed them of their dignity in their own land.
India Narrative spoke with Hassan Murad Bakhsh, Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI) follower and team member of Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch-the man leading a powerful civil rights movement for the Baloch people against the Pakistan government.
Bakhsh says: “When we go out to the sea, we cannot return home because the Chinese VIP movement is happening. Imagine that we spend eight hours working at the sea and then we are blocked because some Chinese engineer is moving about. Even if it is a Chinese cook, we have to wait on the roads for hours together. The situation is so bad that we cannot even take a patient to the hospital if the coastal highway is blocked by the security forces”.
Hassan Murad Bakhsh (Photo: India Narrative)
He clarifies that they are not really bothered about China because it is an alien country. “China na hamara mulk hai, na hame China se shikayat hai (neither is China our country, nor do we have complaints against China). China is doing what it wants to do”, says Bakhsh. In the same breath he makes it clear that the Baloch people are annoyed with their own country Pakistan and with their own government.
Bakhsh says that the protestors are at odds with the government because it does not allow them to work. “Our government does not allow us to earn our own living. We cannot go to the border to trade and we cannot go for fishing activities in the sea. We do not have water and power”, says Bakhsh.
He adds: “We are angry with our government. We are angry with the check-posts, we are angry with our bureaucrats. We have restrictions on our movement and we cannot go out of our homes. We cannot go anywhere”.
Free Baloch Movement leader refutes Beijing statement on Gwadar protests as ‘fake news’. (Photo: India Narrative)
Right now, the all-important port city of Gwadar is witnessing sustained protests under the banner of ‘Gwadar ko haq do’, ‘Give rights to Gwadar’ movement which have continued non-stop for the past 19 days. The Baloch people have been meticulously organised in their protest which has drawn the attention of the international media as also the Chinese foreign ministry.
Earlier this week, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian had termed Gwadar port city protests as “fake news” being carried by the international media with a view to damage relations between China and Pakistan.
However, flying in the face of Chinese assertions, Maulana Baloch has made Gwadar a hotspot of community mobilisation and resistance with daily agitations.
Explaining why the protests have drawn so many people including women and children, Bakhsh says: “Yeh, awaam ke dil ki aawaz hai (this protest is a reflection of the voice of the masses)”.
He explains further: “Maulana Baloch first took up the cause of the Baloch people on August 19, when he launched his protest from Surbandar and Ras Kappar regions of Balochistan for basic necessities. He was the only leader to have raised the demands for basic rights of the people at that time”.
Pakistan rushes more troops to Balochistan as rights movement spreads wings.(Photo: India Narrative)
Now, the protests have spread across the entire coastal belt of Balochistan, including important towns and ports-Jiwani, Pasni, Ormara, Kech, Turbat and others.
The charter of demands shared by the protestors include basic rights like water and power, access to fishing in the Arabian Sea, opening up the border with Iran and removal of Pakistani security check posts. Besides these, closure of liquor shops, curbing drugs and other illegal activities also fares in the list of demands.
With the government sending another 5,500 troops, Bakhsh says laughingly: “Let them come. We will offer them halwa (sweets)”.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
The 1,500 acres project, is being executed jointly by the federal, Sindh government and CPEC Authority to enhance the economic prospects in the province….reports Asian Lite News
A newly awarded contract for a development project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is in limbo after it was challenged before a Pakistani court.
The contract for the Dhabeji Industrial Zone (DIZ) project near Karachi is facing a petition, stating that the rules of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) were not followed while awarding the contract, Dawn newspaper reported.
The 1,500 acres project, is being executed jointly by the federal, Sindh government and CPEC Authority to enhance the economic prospects in the province.
The provincial government said that since Dhabeji Zone has not been given the status of SEZ, the rules of special economic zones do not apply to it.
‘US, India make attempts to manoeuvre Pak out of CPEC’
Back in February 2020, the Sindh government received bids for the project. Two-month later after the evaluation, one of the bids was declared ‘technically unfit’.
Earlier this month, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had expressed the hope that all economic zones, including DIZ, would be completed at the earliest.
Khan had also lashed out at the Sindh government for the slow pace of development work in the province.
CPEC has been marred with controversy since the announcement of the USD 46 billion project in 2015. Locals are opposing China’s increasing involvement in Balochistan. They are protesting as the CPEC project has not benefited the people of Balochistan while people of other provinces are enjoying the fruits of the mega project.
This has led to widespread protests as the Chinese are viewed as encroachers who are squeezing out all the wealth from the region.
Last week, scores of people have staged a sit-in protest against various issues including needless check posts and fishing trawlers in Balochistan province. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, the Provincial General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Balochistan is spearheading several demonstrations in the region against the CPEC.
Back in October, thousands of residents of Gwadar and Turbat had also gathered there to demonstrate against the non-availability of drinking water, health and education facilities and rising unemployment in Makran division, Dawn newspaper reported.
The protesters have been demanding the removal of unnecessary security check posts and stopping of deep-sea trawlers from fishing in the area because it was causing huge losses to the local fishermen.
Many say that they are made to feel like strangers in their own land, adding to the miseries of a large number of fishermen among the populace, the government, they complain, has issued licences to Chinese trawlers to fish in the waters off the coast.
Apart from Gwadar, scores of people living in Jand city of Pakistan’s Punjab province gathered at the under-construction CPEC road and staged a protest against the National Highway Authority (NHA) and other authorities for not constructing a service road to their areas that have been cut off from each other due to the mega project, Dawn reported.
The CPEC project would link Pakistan’s southern Gwadar port in Balochistan on the Arabian Sea to China’s western Xinjiang region. It also includes plans to create road, rail and oil pipeline links to improve connectivity between China and the Middle East. (ANI)
