CPEC to benefit entire region, say analysts

APP Published August 31, 2015

ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the Gwadar port, Dostain Jamaldini, said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was not just the name of a road or railway system but a mega project.

Speaking to Radio Pakistan, he said the CPEC would not only benefit Balochistan but also prove beneficial for the country’s three other provinces and other countries in the region.

Jamaldini claimed the CPEC would bring more prosperity to Balochistan. He said the government was giving top priority to the development of Balochistan and this project was one of them. He added that the Gwadar port was functional and after the CPEC was completed, Pakistan would have access to central Asian countries and Europe. Economist Dr Shahid Hassan Siddiqui said the CPEC would reduce unemployment in the country. He added that the functioning of Gwadar port will bring an economic revolution and business activities will get a much needed boost.

Analyst Dr Manzoor Khan Afridi said the CPEC was a very important project. He added that it would not only benefit Pakistan but other countries of the region as well. According to Dr Khan, trade statistics have been raised significantly which would ultimately benefit the economy.

He said it was expected that the trade volume would increase after the CPEC was completed. He added that due to this, Gwadar project would become an important seaport as it would be dealing with one-third of the region’s trade activities.

Also read: CPEC projects: status, cost and benefits

Dr Khan claimed that China and Pakistan were committed to taking the project to its maximum height. He said many countries like Afghanistan, Russia and Kazakhstan were also taking an interest to invest in the project for their mutual interests.

The CPEC and its strategic geographical position, he said, would help Pakistan emerge as trading hub. He added that Russia was interested in the project as it would provide them access to warm waters.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2015

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Awan

Aug 31, 2015 07:05am

But the people with biased and regional bias will always try to create hurdles in this project. It is not a name of some road. Rather it is a collection of roads, rail-networks , industrial and engineering projects.

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Glowing Pakistan

Aug 31, 2015 07:24am

Definitely it will benefit whole the region. Don't know way India wants to sabotage it. I think ind don't want its own benefit.

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utopia

Aug 31, 2015 07:30am

best way to get people on your side is not by statements but by quick results. Build a part of it and show on the ground improvements and people will join the effort of building the next part of the project.

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quraishi

Aug 31, 2015 07:36am

There is a huge hype for this project something which is trademark about pakistan from its bithday.creating hype do not solve problems but only put ourselves in self assurance and self deniel.

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Aug 31, 2015 07:47am

This project will either make or break Pakistan. If handled with equal distribution of wealth among all the citizens of the country then it will make it otherwise it will break it.

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W G Sheikh

Aug 31, 2015 07:55am

CPEC is composed of roads and routes and links, and offshoots that would have an unimaginable impact on the lives of those that it would touch; no doubt, CPEC is a blessing in disguise for the poor and the downtrodden; never thought, Pakistan would be the carrier of this blessing for this region; wishing her the best!

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Canada

Aug 31, 2015 07:59am

As much as I believe it will benefit PK to some extent, the real beneficiary will be China. Economically and strategically. Gwadar will provide energy from Iran to Gwadar and then by ship to China. This for China bypasses the unstable Middle East. This benefits primarily China. Secondly all the infrastructure of roads, rail, connectivity, air and energy will be done by China for China. They will let PK use it for free but make PK pay for it bringing money in interest to Chinese financiers. So all this is for China, will PK be able to develop these area that are in ITS interest? I doubt it they dont have the money.

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miqbal

Aug 31, 2015 08:23am

GOOD

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W G Sheikh

Aug 31, 2015 08:33am

CPEC has the serious potential to help Pakistan evolve from a frontier, to an emerging economy, and later, in to a relatively developed economy, in the next two decades.

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Virkaul

Aug 31, 2015 08:44am

Not one analyst or expert on CPEC ever gives expected revenue from the corridor in terms of toll/transit charges vis-a-vis the cost of the corridor. How will the corridor benefit Balochistan when all skilled and unskilled labour for the project will come from China? What kind of industries are planned in Balochistan where Baloch with their present skills can be gainfully employed?

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rich

Aug 31, 2015 09:15am

@Glowing Pakistan india benefiting how? Pakistan is not giving india access to afganistan u thin they will let us use CPEC reg this peoject I don't know how other countries will benefit no one fron pakistn gov or official have given any clear picture, as I see it mostly china will benefit, and it ok bec its their money, but where is the link of this highway to other countrues

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flipflopcarrot

Aug 31, 2015 09:29am

Economic revolution: 80% of the profits goes to politicians, 15% goes to Mafias, and other relatives of politicians who are indirectly involved into development of this awesome port, remaining 5% is spent on theprovince and government provides subsidies with tax and vat totalling 15% because gogovernment faces revenue generation issues

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Jainy

Aug 31, 2015 09:44am

Keep the route same as it was before and you'll find no hurdles during implementation. No doubt, the project will be beneficial to the whole region but the government need to put their efforts in education, health, agriculture and law & order sectors where we are facing major issues. Pakistan is economy is based on agriculture and none of our governments ever tried to bring innovations & development. We need not to rely on this corridor only cause this isn't the solution for our development.

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Naaz

Aug 31, 2015 09:47am

So the part of Kashmir not under our control is yours and the part we have is a perspective territory. Explains your ardent compassion for Kashmiris. As for the CPEC not sure how it will shorten thr distance to Central Asia or Europe for you but things will be better than the present so good luck.

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ChhotaModi

Aug 31, 2015 09:50am

Its all a sham and even a school kid could make out: 1. Chinese industries are mainly in the south eastern coast and getting gas to northeast desert is not going to be of commercial value for china. 2. Pakistan has nothing to supply to central Asia. 3. Pakistan can't pay for gas from middle east. So no point in having a port. 4. Chinese economy is crashing and its unlike they would invest a penny in unstable Pakistan.

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Naaz

Aug 31, 2015 10:05am

@Glowing Pakistan any tangible evidence?

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Krezy

Aug 31, 2015 10:09am

By no means its a critical or empirical study, rather more of a wishful thinking... One third of regions trade... I mean its a grey statement...

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jit

Aug 31, 2015 10:09am

See our chabar port here to your neibour.

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AHA

Aug 31, 2015 10:11am

No doubt this is a good project. However in today's world $42B is not too big investment and please don't create too much hype. Such investments (and much larger) are happening worldwide. People will get disappointed later as CPEC is not answer for all the problems we have. Also its wise to make sure this project is not going thru any disputed territories. We want to see results not colorful reports.

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anil sahu

Aug 31, 2015 10:13am

@Glowing Pakistan avoid the road through disputed kashmir india will support it

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AHA

Aug 31, 2015 10:15am

And also we need to be practical. Infrastructure is just one part of development. In order to get benefits from CPEC, we need to have industrial culture, safe n secure environment, and importantly stable government with reliable investment policies.

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Pune-India

Aug 31, 2015 10:19am

UAE, OMAN, IRAN and INDIA have not any objection on this project??..if not then Good Luck..

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ahmad

Aug 31, 2015 10:26am

It is a dream of the ordinary citizens of Pakistan to achieve level of prosperity.But this goal can only be achieved if the wealth created by CPEA is wisely spent on the well being of the people of the region,by providing them with better education,health,sanitation and clean drinking water.Lets work for the prosperity of people of Balochistan and its spill over benefit will make us all happy.

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shank

Aug 31, 2015 10:35am

CPEC is great but pakistan seems to believe that CPEC alone will not bring economic prosperity. Does anyone talk about the interest rate China charges for this project??

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Blogger

Aug 31, 2015 10:52am

Will Pakistan agree if China wants to supply it's goods to India through the corridor. Doubt if will be in a position to refuse.

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Aug 31, 2015 11:56am

Being a Karachiete I didnt like the fact that no investment was being made in Karachi. But later on I realised if investment would have been made then there would have been an influx of people coming to Karachi. Its a good thing investment is being made else where and people could get their jobs in those areas. Karachi can not take in anymore people.

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hari

Aug 31, 2015 12:18pm

Make believe ?!

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Nisar

Aug 31, 2015 12:18pm

Lets hope it works out, just be vigilant of the the jealous regional countries, who will try to sabotage the project.

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Sameen Bawla

Aug 31, 2015 12:25pm

@Blogger Whats wrong with it, China is trading with India anyways, If it uses Pakistani roads, its beneficial for Pakistan in economic terms.

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washim

Aug 31, 2015 12:32pm

@shank 19% based on dollar value of PKR

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Moha

Aug 31, 2015 12:37pm

@Virkaul The Balochis with their current skills? It is up to the Balochis to upgrade their skills so they can take advantage of the opportunities in front of their noses.

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Ash

Aug 31, 2015 02:40pm

Lets talk logistics wise about this project 1. China will create a corridor through Pakistan to reach Arab and European markets, China is building the port and the roadways, what's Pakistan role in this? what industries does it have that it needs to reach to Chinese and European markets. 2. Since China is creating the corridor, don't expect them to pay any toll tax or freight charges, so in all no income generation for Pakistan from this project. 3. Talking of supporting industries, since Pakistan has no auto industry the only industry that can flourish here is the container business.

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Unknown

Aug 31, 2015 02:47pm

Why Chinese selecting only china based companies and not any Pakistan companies to develop CPCE? China has placed Pakistan in a huge financial bind and offered loans at very high rates of interest. China not only wants better than market returns for the money being invested in the CPEC, but also wants Islamabad to select only Chinese firms for all CPEC-related contracts.

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Manish

Aug 31, 2015 02:58pm

Do you have any idea Chinese economy is collapsing . Companies are leaving china and Pakistan is searching its future with Chinese help

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Ayan Das Bangalore

Aug 31, 2015 03:20pm

Currently the economic situation in China is not good .cpec concept is old and outdated.I believe it will not work.it also depends on various other parameters timeline being a key one

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zak

Aug 31, 2015 03:41pm

' He added that Russia was interested in the project as it would provide them access to warm waters.' They could have just asked in 1979 rather than invade Afghanistan as a prelude to invading Baluchistan. They underestimated Pakistan's will and strength and look what happened to them. Gone into the heap of history. Some neighboring countries should learn the lesson, instead of occupying other nations which will result in soviet style collapse. Then another one will go into heap of history.

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Joe

Aug 31, 2015 03:45pm

@ChhotaModi Moreover 1. Sea transport is 1/6 as compared to land transport. 2. Chinese are building pipeline from Russia and exploring shale in there own country. 3. World is rapidly moving towards Wind and Solar. So in next 15 years strategic influence of Middle eastern countries is going to diminish.

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Ash

Aug 31, 2015 05:00pm

@zak the countries having proper functioning democracies will survive, that's what democracy is all about. Pakistan has military dictatorship which can fall anytime. Forget about countries taking over, protect your country first from falling apart.

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KHALID SOHAIL

Aug 31, 2015 05:06pm

Many friend counties are hidden enemies and they want to prevent prosperity of BALOCHISTAN to damage the growth. Do not tolerate RAW. Do not allow friends to tangle us they have desire to give room to RAW to destabilize BALOCHISTAN.

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N.S

Aug 31, 2015 05:37pm

@Ash Democracy is not just about elections, voting and selecting a few people in the parliament. Its about equality of human beings, pluralism, inclusive and open society, level playing field for each human, irrespective of his caste and creed...is this system in place in India??

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Mudassar

Aug 31, 2015 05:40pm

@Glowing Pakistan Actually India has made plan to crush Pakistan so India has also invested in Afghanistan to distablize Pakistan but now all their investment is going to waste....

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Mudassar

Aug 31, 2015 05:46pm

@Canada Dear obviusly it is the rule of invester.Invester always come for profit but when no one is ready to invest in Pakistan.at this stage 43billion is much more for Pakistan.It is not just road and rail.............Two most important points are 1.Energy problems shall be solved and 2nd Chinies will build industrial zones in diffrent part of Pakistan which certainly increases skills of Pak youth..As about interest on debt.it is much more less than to IMF etc

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Mudassar

Aug 31, 2015 05:51pm

@flipflopcarrot aye indian troll..why NAB is making cases on former PPP leadres to show to Present govt that if you will do this,you will have to bear the same.......NAB is nothing it is army who is making cases to PPP leaders because Army is much more carefull for CPEC.

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Mudassar

Aug 31, 2015 05:52pm

@Jainy You are right but at this stage Pakistan need this project

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KeyPoints

Aug 31, 2015 08:27pm

@Mudassar Pakistan will benefit with completion of CPEC, but China will benefit much more, having direct and easy access to middle east countries for sale of its products, through Pakistani port of Gwadar. Its a good deal for mutual benefit of two neighbourly and friendly countries. CPEC also provides great opportunity for Afghanistan and central asian countries to join the CPEC midway, transporting their goods towards Gwadar and on to many middle eastern, and european countries. Countries in the region should work together for mutual economic gains to improve living standards of all.

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SUNIL

Sep 01, 2015 06:56am

In the present HRD scenario of Pakistan, the country will benefit mainly by the rents collected through CPEC

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Kashif Kashmiri

Sep 01, 2015 07:50am

@NS Nothing can break Pakistan. Projects are for Pakistan, Pakistan is not for projects.

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Sense

Sep 02, 2015 05:40am

Yeah baby the roads will be full of milk and honey,those who are jealous will rot away

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Aman Pasha

Sep 02, 2015 11:01pm

Economists try to keep models and theories simple, so i will keep it simple, for excited fellow Pakistanis and curious Indians. Gwadar has both military and economic relevance, for Pakistan; however, currently Pakistan is developing the port, primarily, for military and strategic purposes. If Gwadar developed as military-strategic port, it would reduce conventional naval advantage of Indian Military. As an economic port, it will benefit China and Afghanistan. Indians must acknowledge that Pakistan is indispensable for their economy, as former desperately needs access to lucrative central Asian Markets and energy resources. With reducing footprint, in Afghanistan, Pakistan is becoming the only option.

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