Balochistan CM says not taken into confidence on Pak-China corridor
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QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Dr Abdul Malik Baloch on Sunday said he was not taken into confidence by anyone with regards to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Talking to Dawn.com after holding a meeting with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) central leader Liaquat Baloch, the chief minister said he was not aware of the trade corridor’s route.
Dr Malik Baloch did however say that he was aware that China will be working on three important projects in Balochistan.
Talking on the planned trade corridor and other projects agreed upon during Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan, the Balochistan CM said it was the first time ever a friendly country was making such a massive investment in Pakistan.
“The people of Balochistan must benefit from these projects,” he said, adding that the people of Gwadar must be given preference for jobs and other benefits.
JI leader Liaquat Baloch said following the 18th amendment to the Constitution, the prime minister had to take all provinces into confidence when taking major decisions. He said the amendment empowered provinces to decide about their fate.
“The prime minister should not focus on just one province; he has to focus on all provinces,” the JI leader said.
Liaquat Baloch said parts of Balochistan must be included in the corridor between Gwadar and Kashghar so that the province could come at par with other parts of the country.
Earlier, the two leaders discussed the political situation in the country and in Balochistan, and agreed to make joint efforts to improve the situation.
These comments by the Balochistan CM come just a couple of days after the Awami National Party (ANP) announced convening a multi-party conference on May 16 to discuss the issue of CPEC and its proposed route.
ANP and other Baloch nationalist parties claim that Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been ignored in the 3,000 kilometres long Gwadar-Kashghar route of the CPEC.
ANP leader Mian Iftikhar had claimed the federal government deliberately created a controversy, neglecting the smaller provinces. “We will resist any change in route,” he said.
Explore: Economic corridor: ANP denounces change in route, calls APC.
The government was criticised for having allegedly changed the CPEC’s route to go straight east from Gwadar towards Khuzdar, then slightly northeast to cross the River Indus near Ratodero and connect with the road network in Sindh.
But the government has strenuously denied any route changes were made, arguing that two routes are being pursued, and on the request of the Chinese, the second route was being built first simply because it was cheaper to do so.
Read: China-Pakistan corridor: Prove claims of route change, challenges Iqbal.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (41) Closed
May 04, 2015 12:53am
Please keep and follow the original route (Kashgar to Gwadar) going through KP province to Baluchistan (Gwadar). Turning & twisting the economic corridor route, to make it go through back alleys and congested areas of Punjab and sindh will dilute its validity. Please let it go straight KPK-Baluchistan gwadar to help develop less populated areas of country. This will also help earn extra revenue from adjoing shipments of Afghanistan and central asian countries. PLEASE do not ruin a national project for benefit of few. Please help benefit the nation, to make Pakistan prosper.
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May 04, 2015 12:58am
He will never be taken by the Big Brother.
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May 04, 2015 01:17am
Sir either you are incompetent or an accomplice. How come being the democratic CM, you don't know about this Mega Project, If you don't know, its not Prime Ministers fault, its your fault why you are unaware of this?
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May 04, 2015 01:22am
Congrats .. now we are talking
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May 04, 2015 01:44am
Why is he speaking now after so many days
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May 04, 2015 01:45am
Thanks sharif's once again for a dividing Pakistan...
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May 04, 2015 01:45am
Why dont the GOP comes up with the final route map with strong state commitment of Pakistan so this non sense stop at once and we get on with the project? Mere statements from PML(N) ministers are irrelevant as they dont carry any weight and can be trashed as political statements.
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May 04, 2015 02:09am
Powerless Balochistan Chief Minister -- Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch !
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May 04, 2015 02:15am
Enough of this. Just publish a map of this route for everyone to see. What is the big secret?
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May 04, 2015 02:17am
There was no representation of other provinces other than punjab as if they are mere terrorities. Well this is what u can expect from a leader who only gets elected because of one province. He has to give sonething in return to his province for the sake of political future of his kids and nephews...
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May 04, 2015 03:00am
China Pakistan corridor has two trade routes
1. Kashgar Gwadar passing from KPK and Balochistan. Its a huge investment and will take time and eventually will be the route
Short term to start trade;
2. Will be built on Already built infrastructure in Pakistan
Makran karachi (already built up route will be upgraded by China Pak)
Karachi Hyderabad (under progress by Pak)
Hyderabad Multan (China Pak)
Faisalabad multan ( under progress)
Faisalabad Islamabad Peshawar ( already constructed by Pak)
Peshawar Kashgar(silk road will be upgraded)
Why Pakistani media will be complexing the issue. In both routes it has to pass from all provinces
The first route will be finished in 10 years and second in 3-4 years
Pakistani media has to learn the technical issues before publishing articles daily against it
Its a win win deal for both. In any case it will help Pakistan more than China because infrastructure development, jobs, and new companies will be created in Pakistan
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May 04, 2015 03:05am
Ok so now this CM wants sme more money and so again black mailng. What has he delveredr in last 2 years? Except for making Arsalan Iftikhar Cheif of investment? This on exactions shows how sincere he is to bring investment and welfare to Baluchistan.
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May 04, 2015 03:19am
There is only one route that is through KP & Baluchistan. Chinese are getting access to warm water for free so they don't decide which way it should go. All the industrial zones should be built on this route.
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May 04, 2015 03:24am
agree with CM Baluchistan.
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May 04, 2015 03:25am
@Ludwig better late then never.
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May 04, 2015 03:34am
Political vultures would destroy this mega project for their greedy means. Let Chinese engineers decide which route is financially viable or politicians in Labored.
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May 04, 2015 03:43am
Ehsan Iqbal our some minister has thrown a challenge couple of day back, that CPEC was not altered. now, I believe, its time for him to pacify all remaining three provinces that route was not altered. Balochistan is first to elbow Ehsan, next will be KP most likely and then entire country will up to it... So, what don't these politicians share SUCH PROJECTS WHICH are for us ?
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May 04, 2015 03:54am
CM should streamline the province, clean war lords, make the province safe,
for the other province to migrate. CM of Baloachistan fails to attack Sindhi, Punjabi, Pathans, especially Mahajirs who were in desperate need of home. How dare to complain Nawaz Sharif did not pay attention to him.
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May 04, 2015 04:14am
The first proposed route looks better than the alternative route. The first route is direct to Gowader and quicker.
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May 04, 2015 04:28am
@Patriotic - This is typical of Pakistan one man show, there is big difference knowing through news channel or taking into confidence, by the way mark my word one day Baluchistan going to feed rest of the Pakistan.
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May 04, 2015 04:37am
the biggest problem of pakistan is that punjab have more than 180 national assembly seats, so whoever won in punjab will make government in center. thats why sharif brothers and company only concentrates on punjab and deprive other provinces even of their constitutional rights.
point to be noted that they did not even do some sort of good work in punjab apart from flyovers and metro buses.agriculture is the bacbone of pak but govt is doing nothing thats why we are importing 4 billion dollar edible oil every year, which should be brought to zero and should be exported to earn foreign reserve.
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May 04, 2015 04:43am
@Patriotic
Why is he airing his grievance in the public after such a long time.The mega projects deal has been in talks ever since the Chinese postponed their visit few months back. He is an incompetent and corrupt politician,just as rotten as they come.No sympathy for you sir!
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May 04, 2015 04:47am
Dr Abdul Malik Baloch don't worry everything will be OK inshallah.Balochistan will be most wealthy and prosperous province of Pakistan.Let the project complete in a smooth way.
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May 04, 2015 04:48am
It's ridiculous to watch politicians and the media crucify NS for getting a deal with China.
The fact is we're in no position to demand anything whatsoever and should be thankful for any route that China has chosen.
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May 04, 2015 05:35am
No CM was invited by Nawaz Sharif... during the China's president visit. It was NS personal contact trip.
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May 04, 2015 05:43am
CM is right and should have been taken on board before any decision by the PM. Gawadar is in Baluchistan and Baloch leaders have to taken in confidence for the success of this mega project.
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May 04, 2015 05:49am
People who will be against this route will be those who think they won't make any money out of this deal. And people who are for this deal are the ones who will make out of it. The fact is that ordinary people like the 95% of people of Pakistan will not benefit at all from this corridor. The ordinary people will still have to jump over several hoops to survive in this jungle.
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May 04, 2015 06:05am
PML N is a Punjab-centric party with absolutely no interest in the development of Pukhtunkwa and Baluchistan. Nawaz Sharif biased approach will further polarize an already divisive nation.
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May 04, 2015 06:12am
So basically Pukhtun and Baloch nationalists are stating that it is alright to give the shortest possible route to China but the industries of Punjab and Sindh should not connect to this economic corridor?. So nationalists will be happy when Industries in the most populated provinces will not connect to China.?. For all of these folks i just want to say that the purpose of this corridor is not to just connect China with the sea. Rather its main purpose is to connect Pakistani industries with China as well. When all Industrial Zones of Pakistan will not be included in any route then infact this so called corridor will act as a simple road for China, rather than of any economical benefit except some collection of toll-tax and some road side dhabas on this route.
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May 04, 2015 06:40am
Creating an issue for sake of an issue. Thats what Nationalist do.
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May 04, 2015 06:42am
ALL of these politicians are short sighted. The route must go through Khuzdar as when it will pass close to Pasni, Ormarah and then curves upwards towards Khuzdar, it makes whole of our coast line alive giving a boost to future development of Pasni and Ormarah as big industrial cities too. In adition to this road, N85 should be upgraded with extra lanes from Hoshab to Quetta and then Chaman which could make goods transport to Afghanistan much smoother. Building these two roads will develope whole of Balochistan. All those who are advocating the route to go through Quetaa are simply taking a possibility of connecting Pasni and Ormarah to trade route away. They must understand that coast line development is future of Balochistan and Pakistan. It will attract all Baloches to these cities and get jobs.
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May 04, 2015 06:46am
All provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and all major political parties must be taken into confidence before the commencement of this multi-billion immensely important project. Enough marginalization of smaller provinces, now it’s time to empower them decide their own destiny. Pakistan would become stronger when all of its units would plug in and play in collaboration.
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May 04, 2015 07:00am
@Patriotic -read it again please. He knows the whole deal but officially not taken into confidence which doe snot make it his problems but the federal govt high handedness.
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May 04, 2015 07:12am
Baluchistan CM just woke up. He claimed that he wasn't taken into confidence. I hope woken dog is not running toward wrong direction.
What is the rule of 18 amendments to take provinces should be taken into confidence, ANP claims it as achievements. PM should not look for all provinces but instead he should abide by the law and follow Pakistan constitution, Mr. Liaquat Baloch.
The acceptable route for this project should be a cheaper for Chinese investors. The saving of cheap rout should be based on DIRECT ROUT construction not on security. If a route is changed on security this would be a DISSERVICE to CHINES.
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May 04, 2015 07:15am
The Federal Government must take all stakeholders onboard before finalizing the route of Economic Corridor.
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May 04, 2015 07:39am
Now is not the time to create confusion and differences in the minds of the people, our dearest friend and investor China who has kindly agreed to invest when nobody else came forward, we should be ever grateful that they are investing and regarding jobs to locals they will definitely get non technical jobs , but since China is the sole investor and Govt of Pakistan is only providing land , Chinese will be getting employed in most of the jobs as we know their is employment problem in China and Chinese govt is worried that CPC will be in trouble if unrest spreads due to the issue and is doing all it can to secure jobs to chinese people locally and world wide , hence this huge investment in troubled territory of Baluchistan.
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May 04, 2015 08:08am
The first route may be shorter, but it goes right through rural areas and internationally-recognized war zones. If the first route were to be used, then the infrastructure of both KPK and Balochistan would have to be developed in order to meet particular standards, and doing so is rather costly and time consuming. Moreover, the TTP and BLA would also pose a threat. In contrast, the route through Punjab is cheaper to build and much more safe, which is why the CHINESE government decided to use the second route.
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May 04, 2015 08:13am
Being an ally of govt, was CM baluchistan unaware of route as it is going to Gawader, and if not why did'nt he asked question in meeting. This is not fault of PM. I think like kalabagh dam, this project will never start.
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May 04, 2015 08:37am
@Abdul Basit But the problem is the safety of the route, our brothers are not thinking of their own wellbeing. They are not realizing that outsiders are inciting them to break Pakistan and dealt them worse kind of exploitation afterwards. Why don't they understand that the Sardars are insincere to them, they are the reason the common people are in this plight.
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May 04, 2015 09:04am
@KeyPoints
The matter could be far from decided. China might not be convinced about any new route. Pakistan will not get something for nothing from the Chinese. China can afford to wait. A Lahore to Islamabad route may have to be constructed with Pakistan government money.
When you sign a contract with the Chinese, that contract is only the rights to further negotiation. It might be a 40 year deal if Pakistan won't agree to China's terms. This all goes through Pakistan's Hong Kong bank which is now Chinese on territory.
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May 04, 2015 02:18pm
What's happened with our politicals leaders. We are muslims and one nation of pakistan.plz be live as a nation. Don't divide pakistani nation.
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