Pakistan is a developing third world country. A door to the development has been opened in all over the country especially in Balochistan. The CPEC is a 3,000 km network of roads, railways and oil and gas pipelines from Gwadar port to Kashgar city in north-western China’s Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region. Gwadar is the port of origin and starting point for the CPEC. All above that, in true essence Balochistan is the gateway to this fate changing, multi-billion dollar project which will boost Pakistan’s economy. Moreover, CPEC will bring an economic revolution along with foreign investments which will help Balochistan evolve into a modern developed province.
There is ambiguity in some circles of society. They are in denial that there is an ongoing development in Balochistan. On inquiry from these cynic people, they quote the recent report of United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It has given the inconsistent incidence of development challenges facing these areas. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has released a new poverty report that indicates unambiguous regional disparities within Pakistan with Balochistan being the poorest province of the country. Balochistan doesn’t have proper infrastructure and educational facilities. Each province is ranked on its citizens living below the poverty line which is defined as living on less than $2 a day. Moreover, Balochistan is lacking from the basic needs as the province has further fallen down in terms of sustainability and is on top of the poverty index.
In response to this report, it needs to be understood change never came over a night. CPEC is in an immature age and it will progress with the passage of time. Although Balochistan has achieved a lot in past 5 years. Institutional structure for a new local government and rural development department has been established in Balochistan. With their assistance and training to provincial officials and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Balochistan has become the first province to complete a full cycle of local elections which is vital for the future of poverty reduction. Furthermore, the Chairman Senate of Pakistan has been selected from Balochistan which means that the political say of Balochistan will be weighted in future. The central hospital has been finally blessed with an intensive care unit in Quetta. On the larger picture, these are the minor developments but still, Balochistan is at least moving from the dead wheel.
On contrary, more reforms are required in the socio-economic-political arena. The initial phase of this mega project has been completed but there are several untapped hinges which can be explored, like green technology via coal, cheap labour of Balochistan, taxes from these routes, taxes from Chinese and third-parties who are investing in CPEC. If all these pivotal points are tapped, CPEC will glow to its height and the caricatures will die. The political will and the alignment of Balochistan state organs are synced together for the prosperity of Balochistan but the hawkish elements including immediate neighbours of Pakistan and major powers of the world are putting their efforts to sabotage the CPEC.
