Well Done China! Long Live China Pakistan Friendship

This is going to be exact parralel play of Trans Cananda Highway in Canada followed by over 120 billion dollars Trans Canada pipe line and Enbridge pipe line to transport 6 trillion cubic feet of gas per year. China is looking at even more gas from middle East to even half catch up with America. In oil refining China has accomplished that more than half catch up.

The future looks bright for both China and Pakistan. Keep up with the good works.

CPEC project is a game changer project. Long live PAK China friendship.

" China' s total contribution to the corridor-related road projects will be Rs1.025 trillion"

That shows the inherent strength of the Project. Owner's Pride ..and neighbour's Envy ! Long Live China !!

Sorry to say, for roads and basic infrastructure we are looking for outside help. Pity on ourself that still we feel proud.

Wow.

Pak cheen dosti zindabad!!

China will get interest on these loans as well as it will not pay toll as well. Good for China

All sounds good and nice. But i would say, be careful guys. Remember its all loan and needs to be repaid. More the loan, more the interest money that you have to pay. 1 Trillion USD is a huge huge money. The projects will get completed, say by 2020, but the monthly installment will start from next month. My suggestion would be, first complete the current project, then once this is giving a return go for a new loan.

Great Progress. Looking forward to see a prosperous Pakistan very soon

@S, Any help from China is welcome for the future of Pakistan.

@Dr Siddique I hope you know that it is all loan. I also hope you know that in India a businessman built a $2 billion house for himself. Also hope you know we collected more than $80 billion in just 2 months in tax so we don't need outsiders to build our nation. We ask for Investments, not aid.

@S Its Foreign Investment. You are lucky someone is investing.

The real hero behind the CPEC is Pervez Musharraf... The main thing is The Gwadar Port constructed under him and he invited China to utilize this route for the trade.. he committed to support Chinese navy through this port.

Yahoo!! Chinese will in the coming years run the federal government too as they clearly do a much better job. Damn you England for leaving us!!

Good friendship, China is participating in infrastructure projects in Pakistan. In Bangladesh too. A Chinese firm, China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd is constructing the Padma bridge with 3 billion dollars. But difference with the Pakistani projects with Padma bridge is that BD is financing this project 100% with its own money.

Industry and agriculture in decline, poor record on tax collection, financially leaky economic policies, not so transparent and unccountable governance, ever larger and growing debt burdens. Is anyone doing any math as to how those national obligations are going to be met. With more debt and that for how long and how?

@Mirza Mahmud Askari, Dhaka The question is Does Bangladesh has $ 3 Billion dollars? and if they do then what China has do with it? if Bangladesh can do things on its own.

Outsider giving lot of loan which common people will have to pay by more taxes, charges, toll tax etc. It is beneficial for China and politicians only.

@sam: Nowadays BD's foreign exchange reserve is highest in this subcontinent after India. BD selected a Chinese firm through a tender process to construct almost 7 km long Padma bridge. If you want to know more about Padma bridge, one of the longest bridges in our subcontinent, please google it for the information.

@Mirza Mahmud Askari, Dhaka Well if this the case then congratulations to you and your country, and we pray that your country do well in future. But please let Pakistan my country do whatever we feel is better for us

As an Indian also I think it is a huge huge investment (1.025 trln pkr ~ 9.8b$) . Geopolitics of subcontinent is taking whole new direction.

Foreign Exchange reserves India $363 b , Bangladesh $ 32 b and Pakistan $ 18 b

good

China has to come construct roads in remote areas. What else do we want from them. If we can correct our judicial system that can hold corrupt people onquick time, Pakistan can become a fully developed country in short span of time. Why not ask Chinese to build water dams and reservoirs for us. This might be a very good idea.

Kidos to Pak-China friendship.

@viv Population of India is over 1.2 billion compare to its $$ reserves . Resources of Bangladesh and compare the Size of Bangladesh which is 1/4 of Pakistan but the population is same as Pakistan . Keep this in mind too. Apart from Pakistan International Positioning. Pakistan stock exchange has out performed not only south Asia but many major stock exchange of the world. I rest my case. Long live Pakistan.

I see slow creation of another greece....good luck !!

@SAM brother my comment is not for demeaning any country and please do not take it otherwise. What we should learn from BD is to promote exports and maintain right economic policies which can be achieved with internal reforms.Without serious reforms , all these loans will only add to debt woes which is already at an alarming level.

I think all the countries who are worry so much about CPEC should worry more about there own people, why waste time on CPEC. It seems like all the problems of those countries who are against CPEC have been solved, and all they are left with is CPEC to worry about. Countries like India , Bangladesh where half of the population is living on the streets should take care of them, instead of being concern about who is building what in Pakistan and who will pay off Pakistan CPEC loan.

@viv Pakistan is a Institution within itself we learn things from are own experience we don't need to learn from Bangladesh experience , what is good for India is good for India, and what is good for Bangladesh is good for Bangladesh. But one thing for sure for Pakistan CPEC is the GAME CHANGER and we will make it happen.

Soft loans has to be paid back. Tolls are not applicable for Chinese trucks , So toll alone can not recover the cost. At 1% interest per year on 1. 025 Trillion interest alone is a big amount. But money has to come from somewhere thats fine but recovery has to be thought about

What these leaders are doing, seems and tested, have no brains at all?

What other options do they have but to immediately complete the historic multi-billion dollar project?

China is doing its part.

What we need to do? Bring in as much man power from Balochistan as possible for the construction works or even as trainees.

Even the tribesmen, when paid well and remain busy, will forget about the path on which their sardars are leading them, while strengthening their seats and spreading anarchy in the province.

If youth from Balochistan can serve in army, why can't FWO and NHA recruit as many as possible for the construction and development works?

I hope that with the support of this forum, my message is received and understood by the concerned authorities.

According to the history of road development projects in Baluchistan, 90% of allocated amount will be consumed by corruption only 10% would be utilized for actual development. Within one year it would be hard to find the road but just a shade of road.

@Dr Siddique dude there is no envy in neighbour. Neighbour has projects bigger than CPEC by many times.

@S well said,

@u lAL. Right said Fred. .for example, US investment in 1 solar energy project in itself is $100bn! So no envy on paying back loans.

@sam " Pakistan is a Institution within itself we learn things from are own experience "

After 70 years Pakistan is way behind compared to the neighbouring countries. And considering prevailing borrowing and foex reserves as well as forex earnings capacity , Pakistan will have to cut down or abandon many development projects in other pressing areas. Think about it and change your model of development.

Please think about smart cities along with cpec industrial zones.

@S ..Pity on you for being petty minded and not understanding the facts.

@Mirza Mahmud Askari, Dhaka ..Keep watching and see how things change,come back in two years time then compare and try to boast.

@S "Sorry to say, for roads and basic infrastructure we are looking for outside help. Pity on ourself that still we feel proud."

you nailed it bro.

How much worth of contracts have been awarded to Pakistani Contractors in CPEC?

This adds another $ 9.5 billion to the $ 46 billion CPEC, making it a $ 55.5 project, as at present.

Congratulations from a neighbor. Wish Pakistan to be prosperous and productive country. This has lot of good implications for the whole subcontinent.

Nothing comes for free.

@South Asia: Your burning heart refuses to feel and would never feel the real essence of CPEC. It is nowhere stated being a loan to Pakistan and still being built by the Chinese. Remember immediately after Partition, Pakistan had requested India to allow making a transport corridor from West to East Pakistan?

@Rohit Singh - Feeling "proud" is something you guys prerogative that you use on any bit of good news, not us. That was your guy too!

That's good. But if China is financing all of your road and infrastructure budget. Then why don't the national government spent other of its own budget on education and healthcare . Only making roads and ports is not gonna help unless the mindset of the people change . Gov should focus on education and healthcare.

Good news. Need more construction projects in province of Baluchistan and KP province. How about constructing some industries to create skilled jobs in those provinces, more than labour jobs only.

@M.Saeed It is a loan but so what? The Chinese will ensure that Pakistani society is changed.

@Khwarezmi They never left you. Only others have joined. There is still much left in the golden sparrow.

The unmitigated anguish of trolls from Bangladesh and Baniyadesh tells me that this project is good for Pakistan.

@Raddi in you're dreams one Trillion US dollars. It is Pakistani RS and that is a loan as well.

Financial viability is critical.

The comments by Indian readers are full of concern for Pakistan's well being. Don't worry we will be fine. China and Pakistan are trusted friends!

@PK Best of luck!

Isolated Pakistan?

china is financing roads for his own need, same goes for that 45 billion.what matters is that are we going to get any benefit in form of royalty or just be happy with the thought that we will have 2-3 good roads with chinese trucks. i was wondering have we evaluated that environment affect due to increase of traffic.i would be more happy if china finance tree plantation as well on massive scale

Whoever is commenting here (out of jealousy or something else) should know that any development (even by paying interest) is good than not doing anything. Yes we will end up paying interest but if your socio-economic situation becomes stable and if people start making their lives better by these projects then so be it, eventually we will get out of the interest and will be able to build more on our own, for now Pakistan did not have a choice. So this to me is a positive step, and pls neighboring country people go and watch Arnab and stop commenting on our affairs.

Folks this is good news but note of caution. Idea of "If you built they would come" is old. I have lived in west for long time now and see lot of projects that did not Pan out as they were supposed to. Is this direct investment where foreign entity is equally responsible to the returns. Do you have understanding about business model through which this will be paid back and how much time wold it take for this project to turn black. There are now examples wherein China "invested" and host countries are now reaching out to World Bank for debt servicing. What kind of guarantees is government giving. Any details

China is smartly creating loan burden on Pakistan.

Am glad if CPEC helps Pakistan. But can some article from Dawn explain how? Isn't it cheaper to trade by sea than by road? I read somewhere that the sea trade is 1% of road trade. What will China import from Pakistan? Let's assume China does export its stuff to Pakistan, then will it not destroy jobs/livelihood? OK,. Now CPEC will go all the way to ME, Europe, if so, Most countries are trying to close their doors to China as their economies will collapse. It also doesn't make economic sense for China as well. Can any author come out with a clear time bound article showing sources of ROI from CPEC to both China & Pakistani's.

@South Asia you are right we should not be happy about this, you truly are our well wisher

@Murtaza-sorry brother we have been telling you the same for the past 70 years but if you had listened......

the bill to China has gone to $51 billion and the end is not in sight the higher the bill the better it is for India

@Raddi Sorry sir it is 1 trillion Rupees and not $

@Mustafa R. Lovely comment bro.agreed 100%

@Jamshed made in China. Come on, no one can trust that.

More loans?

@S u really have no clue do u.

@Khwarezmi Colonisation of Oakisthan Eventually by China

I hope you finish this project soon. It was targeted for $40 billion and I have heard that it far above that ?

Is that true?

Is the public keeping an eye on the costs ?

China is really a good friend of Pakistan. The only worry is after comlition of the project china will dictate the term with us. This is not good for Pakistan but what a project!

Sweet, development is always good. China sees a lot of returns from CPEC, so it is a win-win for both countries...

@Murtaza : Great point and completely agree, the concern I feel that is being overlooked is the way China is asserting itself in South China sea. Its preceived hunger for dominanace and expnasion is scary. Best way forward would be to sudy the ground reality (ability/inability) of countries like Cambodia/Laos /African nations to take a stand against China if needed (eg: Its recent policy asking certain section of people to handover their passports) without being coerced because of financial dependence and slowly loosing sovereignty to govern your own country independently of influence. FDI is completly different from aid. Support to CPEC needs to be studied to make sure expansionist tendencies is not being promoted rather than just brush aside concerns as envy. Wish well and good luck to Pakistan and hope CPEC brings a lot of prosperity to everyone.

Those who are complaining about the loan should know that there are some states in US where the tax rate is 50% of your income yet we say America is great. In a similar scenario, if we get the high living standard with 20% income tax....then how this is the bad deal? For God sake, please stop comparing us with India...we were similar once but now we are different with each other in many things and we cant judge our economy based on their economy.

@Arman Pakistan is on the right track. If you visit any city of Pakistan today you will see development everywhere . Days are not far away when Pakistan will emerge as a Asian super Power. India owes more money in form of loans then Pakistan and India $336 billion Forex divide among its 1.2 billion people compared to Pakistan $18 billion in Forex with only 200 million people gives Pakistan an edge over India.

@sam Well said, Sam.

@South Asia....very well said...bravo

@sam Bangladesh economy is stronger than Pakistan's.

Is China also investing in education and medical sectors?

@Valiya ...So what ?.Who cares !

@Valiya ..Whats your point ?, what are you trying to prove ?.The news here is about Pakistan.

I love CPEC and it could be a big game changer only when the local population is provided the direct and immediate jobs. We just should not wait for the indirect jobs and opportunities.

Good news for Balochistan and KPK

@sam Should go to China and see the condition of the production workers or the bonded workers of Pakistan.

@sam 1.2 billion = 1200 million (336 billion) 200 million * 6 = 1200 million 18 * 6 = 108 billion

Still don't understand that how it gives Pakistan an edge over India. May b its Math which i am sure is not your area of expertise. Anyways i wish CPEC would be game changer for Pakistan

@Ahsan well done Pakistan too.

@sam: Yes, Bangladesh is financing the project 100%. A Chinese construction company along with some local companies have been chosen to build this mega multipurpose bridge.