LARKANA: Former speaker of the Sindh Assembly and Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations, Abdullah Hussain Haroon, has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would not be beneficial to Sindh, as the federal government is ignoring the province.

Addressing the district bar association here on Monday, he foresaw federal government’s intentions of demanding 20 per cent expenses from Sindh after finishing the project. “We are told about a huge investment under the CPEC, but fail to see where this investment is and how much share Sindh has from it,” he said.

Mr Haroon said many things would change if Sindh got nothing. Sindh was passing through a critical phase and “if we do not realise the pulse, we will be converted into a minority”, he added.

He expressed concern over the uncontrolled infiltration and settlement of Afghans in Karachi, Umerkot and others parts of Sindh.

“We should understand the history and feel its steps,” he said and termed disputes over ‘languages’ an incorrect approach which had, according to him, polarised the situation in Sindh.

Other provinces were making progress, he said, adding that it was a welcome sign and “we are happy to see them progressing”.

Mr Haroon accused the Sindh government of playing with the future of haris and abadgars. Instead of selling sugarcane at Rs185 per maund, the growers were compelled to market it at Rs140 and bore billions of rupees losses, he said.

Talking about his good relations with Benazir Bhutto, with whom he had been exchanging views in Karachi and Dubai, he said had she been alive conditions would not have been like what they were today.

He also talked about the issue of Panama Papers leaks and the letter written by the Chief Justice of Pakistan to the government.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2016