CPEC and Smaller Provinces

In the atmosphere of suspicion over the implementation of CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), the PM's holding a consultative meeting, which has led to the setting up of a high powered ten member committee is a prudent move. The 10 member committee comprising of all the four chief ministers is to take up the issues concerning the CPEC, and its implementation.

Apart from the Prime Minister's assurance of his personal involvement in the smooth enforcement of the CPEC, it has also been agreed upon to constitute a special cell at the Ministry of Planning, and Development, for the effective cordination, and information sharing.

Notwithstanding all these measures taken by the government to dispel doubts, and concerns of the smaller provinces, the Federal and the Punjab PML-N led governments need to rise above petty regional interests, or so to say, the interests of particular stake holders this time, in order to cement the tottering bonds of cohesion of the smaller provinces vis-a-vis federation, defuse the secessionist sentiments, and clear off the long established narrative that 'Punjab is monopolizing beyond what is its rightful share.'

This recommendation beocomes all the more important when the smaller provinces are already voicing their concerns over the alleged move to change the eastern route of CPEC, and over a number of aspects of CPEC relating to Economic Zones, and Infrastructure which have not so far been made public. To add fire to flames, the haughty posturing adopted by PML-N ministers is further making the entire scheme dubious and controversial.

No doubt, being a larger province, Punjab deserves a larger share, which it always does get, but in the face of its comparatively far better conditions, with a sound and developed infrastructure vis-a-vis the smaller provinces, which are entirely in a shambles, the CPEC must be made, in the broad national interests, an avenue for the smaller, and more backward regions to develop their infrastructure, and ameliorate their conditions, and benefit from the projects of CPEC, at least at a par with Punjab.

Constitutionally, it is a righful devise laid down in the constitution whereby it is guaranteed that the depressed and backward regions should get every opportunity of progress, and prosperity.

Therefore, it is high time for PML-N led federal government to develop a broad national consensus on the major projects, without taking crucial decisions that concern the whole of the federation single-handedly for certain vested interests, and ensure a transparent and equity-oriented implementation of CPEC, without playing from the back as alleged by the KP and Balochistan, so that the elements of distrust, and alienation may be liquidated, thus nibbing in the bud the roots of separatism to make Pakistan into a unified and strong federation. Pakistan Zindabad!


Farrukh Aziz Ansari
Pakistan Observer.