Balochistan is one of the richest resource states in South Asia. It has remarkable characteristics on account of its geo-strategic location, natural resources, and prominent of all the Gwadar port is the gateway to South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will further accelerate the significance of Balochistan. CPEC will bring change in Pakistan’s economic development but with the help of Balochistan’s obtainable potential, it can change the destiny of both Pakistan and Balochistan.
Balochistan’s youth is labelled as a precious asset of Pakistan but without an advanced education in 21st Century, it will be considered as a body without the soul. Pakistan’s Youth Bulge is 65% of the total population. CPEC will bring harmonization in the state and Balochistan needs the most of it.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday announced that the long-term plan (LTP) for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be announced on December 18th, 2017. Moreover, he said that CPEC will be a “game-changer” for Pakistan and also mentioned that its implementation is accelerating without any smugness, keeping the rapid pace of change in the world economy in mind. He further said that we need to create new demand, we cannot remain idle. GDP will get the boost once the projects will be mainstreamed. Moreover, he criticized all the western countries by giving a statement that, “the Chinese are doing what the Americans and the Europeans should have done after the end of the Afghan War that expelled the Soviets from Afghanistan.” He further said that the war helped bring down the Berlin Wall, and made Europe safe. But we here in Pakistan are still paying the price for it.
China came up with its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative in 2013. The Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the CPEC had sanctioned the long-term plan (LTP 2017-30) without agreeing on development projects and Special Economic Zones on November 21. The project includes a network of railways, roads and pipelines that would connect Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar in the province of Balochistan. But finally the consensus has been derived and LTP is going to be announced after 3 days.
This long-term plan (LTP 2017-30) is the biggest hallmark of CPEC. The notorious narratives against China and Pakistan have been dumbed as CPEC is already on its second stage. Analyzing the complaints of local Baloch populous about the advantages of CPEC will be answered now, as the progress will now be fruitful to the grassroots level. When the people will have more sense of achievement in CPEC they will work together to pace up the ongoing projects. Labor, new industries, infrastructure, jobs, health facilities will all aid in harmonization of Baloch people. As discussed above about the youth bulge, the policy-makers of Pakistan need to involve and give more and more opportunities to the students and people of Balochistan. A prosperous and glowing Balochistan will lead to a developed Pakistan.
