PESHAWAR: Reacting to the reports about change in the Kashgar-Gwadar trade route, representatives of various civil society organisations have asked the federal government to clarify its position on the matter as early as possible otherwise they will observe a peaceful protest on the arrival of Chinese president in Islamabad on March 22.

Speaking at a joint press conference held under the banner of Olasi Tehreek at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, they rejected the government’s alleged plan to change the design and described it against the interests of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Dr Said Alam Mehsud, convener of the Olasi Tehreek who led the representatives of CSOs, said that the federal cabinet had recently approved construction of Haripur-Hassanabadal motorway which was linked with M-2 instead of M-1, claiming that it was part of the Pak-China Economic Corridor.

He said that the Haripur motorway should be linked with Burhan/Hassanabdal instead of M-2. The government, he said, should initiate work on the natural route at the earliest.

Asks govt to clarify position or face protest on arrival of Chinese president

He said that the project’s natural route via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Balochistan was more feasible to attract investment by tapping rich mine, mineral, and other natural resources in the region, which could also generate employment opportunities for the militancy-affected areas of Pakhtun belt.

He said that the economic corridor project would bring economic prosperity, industrial development and investments in oil and gas sector. Besides this, free trade centres would be established to enhance mutual trade between the two friendly countries.

However, he claimed that the route was being diverted to Rathodero or Lahore-Karachi motorway, which would not be acceptable to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the government’s new diversion plan smacked of a conspiracy against the Pakhtun and Baloch people.

Dr Mehsud alleged that the project had been deliberately made controversial by diverting its natural route at the behest of an Arab friend of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Accompanied by representatives of other organisations, including Sikandar Zaman, Arbab Shehryar, Nazeef Khan and others, the Olasi Tehreek convener asked the federal government to take two decisions prior to the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and these included linking of Haripur motorway with Burhan/Hassanabdal and initiating work on the natural route of economic corridor project. He said that the government could not deceive the people of KP, Fata and Balochistan on the pretext of temporary diversion and change of the economic route.

Dr Mehsud demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to raise the issue at the meeting the Council of Common Interests (CCI) if the centre did not initiate work on the original route of the project.

He urged the nationalist parties in Balochistan and KP assemblies to table a resolution against the federal government so as to get the original plan implemented.

He said that implementation of the original plan of the economic corridor would be helpful for the KP and Fata to overcome poverty, unemployment and backwardness.

Engineer Tur Gul said that the project, if implemented in its original shape, would revive trade and industrial activities in the militancy-hit Fata. He asked the government to abstain from diverting the route.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2015

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