Balochistan Economic Forum fully supports BRI
Interview with Sardar Shoukat Popalzai – President, Balochistan Economic Forum
Profile:
Sardar Shoukat Popalzai, President Balochistan Economic Forum, gained his degree in International Relations with major on diplomacy, economics and anti-terrorism before spending nearly 24 years on professional career in the field of information service on International Diplomacy – Corporate Information and Media Monitoring. Over the years he has made presentations at numerous important conferences and corporate briefings. He is also recipient of awards from USA, Great Britain, France, the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Germany, Balochistan Economic Forum has completed 30 years of its founding.
PAGE: China Pakistan Economic Corridor being framework of regional connectivity will not only benefit China and Pakistan but also will have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian Countries. Your views, please:
Sardar Shoukat Popalzai: The Sino-Pak economic corridor will strengthen economic links across the region. Nevertheless, the corridor will play a crucial role in advancing Pakistan’s economic power, exporting, transiting, and transporting goods into and out of Central Asia and carrying them away on the current of the world’s sea lanes, but also will have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asian Countries.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has taken centre stage in Pakistan’s economic landscape and is being described by nearly everyone as a game-changer. The country is becoming increasingly attractive for investors and economic partners, with everyone seeking a windfall from the changing dynamics.
With a population of around 1.4 billion, China has recently become the second largest economy in the world and is increasingly playing an important and influential role in shaping the global economy.
With its rapid economic and social development China has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty and reached all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Many developing countries eye China’s rapid transformation, from a sluggish centrally-planned economy to a vibrant market-based economy, with some envy, and Pakistan is in the process of riding the wave of China’s success.
The vision of CPEC is to improve socio-economic conditions of our people and to enhance connectivity. It includes:
- Integrated Transport & IT systems including Road, Rail, Port, Air and Data Communication Channels.
- Energy cooperation
- Spatial layout, functional zones, industries and industrial parks
- Agricultural development & poverty alleviation
- Tourism cooperation & people to people communication
- Financial cooperation
- Human Resource Development
PAGE: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has significance for the development of the region. Potential areas of cooperation/development include Transport Infrastructure, Trade & Commerce, Peace & development of region, Diverse Investment opportunities, Industrial Cooperation, Socio-Economic development, Tourism including coastal Tourism etc. How would you comment on it?
Sardar Shoukat Popalzai: It is imperative to visualise the entire One Belt One Road (OBOR) or the New Silk Road (NSR) project, of which the CPEC is but one part. The importance of the OBOR or NSR Project, which merits greater attention and must be appreciated not only for China, Pakistan and others but also for many countries located on the ancient Silk Road, particularly the landlocked Central Asia, this project has pinned their hopes for progress, prosperity, growth and development on infrastructure akin to the historic Silk Road. Their zeal is cognisable because it will accelerate their development and progress: developing industries demand new markets; technological innovations facilitate international cooperation; better transportation and logistics increase trade efficiency; and growing energy demands require international cooperation. The advent of the New Silk Road projects will act as a catalyst towards generating regional cooperation, building political flexibility, enhancing economic growth, offering trade diversifications, investing in transportation, tourism, mining and energy sectors.
The CPEC numerous advantages are as following:
Regional advantages
- The Ashgabat agreement is a multi-modal transport agreement between Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan including India for creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf; CPEC routes from the province of Balochistan province would supplement such developments.
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an intergovernmental body founded in Shanghai in 2001, comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which looks at Gwadar very positively.
- Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) will look for opportunities in the Balochistan province.
Regional strategic energy corridor
There are three major pipeline projects on the books. The merging point of all these three pipelines will create opportunities for the province of Balochistan particularly downstream industries, such as oil refinery, fertilizer plants, petrochemical, etc.
- Pipeline -1: About 1,000-km of the total 1,400-km gas pipeline connects Iran’s Persian gulf South Pars gas field to the Indian border will pass through Balochistan province.
- Pipeline -2: The 1,674-km Central Asia Oil Pipeline will connect Turkmenistan Oil Fields to Gwadar via and Afghanistan.
- Pipeline -3: The Gulf-South Asia (GUSA) pipeline project will have a 1,610-km long pipeline running offshore along Balochistan’s coastline from Qatar up to Jiwani.
PAGE: Pakistan-China friendship is deep-rooted and eternal. This friendship is rooted in the hearts of people of the two countries. Your views:
Sardar Shoukat Popalzai: The Pakistan-China diplomatic relations were established 71 years ago and with the passage of time, the friendship between the two countries has flourished in the hearts of the peoples of both countries.
Experts and the general public believe that the deep-rooted friendship is growing day by day and every coming generation cherishes the friendship even more than the previous one.
The People of Pakistan getting economic benefits from the growing economic cooperation between the two countries, which bear witness to the strengthening of relations.
After initiation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2013, the investment level of Chinese companies and banks increased in Pakistan, and Chinese people started coming to Pakistan for infrastructural development which also gave a lot of employment and business opportunities to local people.
The two countries have conducted all-round cooperation, the cooperation in the fields of agriculture, trade, finance, education, science and technology, and people-to-people or cultural exchanges is strengthening and growing day by day.
The CPEC, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, has solved the electricity shortage problem in Pakistan and will further promote the country’s industrialisation to create more jobs.
Looking into the future, the solid foundations of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership ensure that the bilateral relations will be stronger and the special friendship will be passed on to the next generations.
PAGE: Friendship between China and Pakistan is based on trust and mutual support. What is your take on it?
Sardar Shoukat Popalzai: The China and Pakistan enjoy a unique, unrivaled and time-tested brotherhood, and look forward to see further strengthen Pakistan’s all-weather strategic partnership with China, including through the rapid implementation of CPEC.
I firmly believe Pakistan will continue efforts to enhance cooperation with China through CPEC.
Balochistan opportunities
The CPEC is a star project. Its energy and infrastructure development programmes under Belt & Road imitative are going to be a game changer in the region and a pillar for much needed economic growth in Pakistan.
It is certain that Pakistan has put all developmental eggs in the CPEC basket.
While, CPEC will offer an economic boost to the underdeveloped province of Balochistan, and much needed infrastructure to capitalise its resources for improved economic growth and regional connectivity; railways, airport, roads and ports will aid the Free Trade Zone at Gwadar, linking it to Kashgar in China.
Development in Balochistan province will shape the national economic agenda as Balochistan has 16 CPEC projects and recently 12 new projects were also included.
One would never come across many people who oppose development and mega projects in Balochistan. Their only concern has been whether these projects are really going to improve the socio-economic conditions under which the people of Balochistan live.
It’s necessary to gain the confidence of the people of Balochistan by publicly sharing details of all the CPEC projects as a majority of the people living outside Balochistan are ill-informed about the situation in the province, especially since many issues are not discussed in the media.
- CPEC – Regional integrator with greater opportunity provider for the underdeveloped provinces of Pakistan precisely Balochistan.
- The Construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an overall cooperation framework set up by China and Pakistan with a focus on the long-term development of bilateral cooperation in various fields. China is willing to join hands with Pakistan to move forward the building of the Corridor in a balanced and comprehensive way, deepen the all-weather friendship and all-round cooperation between the two countries and forge a China-Pakistan community of common destiny.
- The CPEC involves the construction of highways, railways and energy pipelines connecting western China with Pakistan and the Persian Gulf, thus, enable China to cut the time and distance. A new project will give Pakistan the tools of globalization.
Gwadar
Gwadar is located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, close to the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, through which more than 13 million bbl/d of oil passes. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions of the world: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populated South Asia and the economically emerging and resource-rich Central Asia. The Gwadar Port would pave the way to generate billions of dollars in foreign investments in the state-of-art port city of South Asia.
Scope of the People’s Republic of China – Assistance for the province of Balochistan
- There is a vast scope to improve further economic relations of The People’s Republic of China and Pakistan with reference to the province of Balochistan:
- The People’s Republic of China can help in transfer of technology/direct investment/ joint ventures in energy, fisheries, fruit processing/agro-food, tourism, livestock and mineral development.
- The People’s Republic of China’s government and private sector can also provide technical expertise for Gwadar Port and Gwadar city development.
- The People’s Republic of China’s government and representative bodies can also enlighten the Chinese business concerns regarding the investment potential of Balochistan through visits of trade/ governmental delegations on reciprocal basis, besides holding of conferences/exhibitions.
Win-Win situation
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will not only enhance the strategic cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad, but also open up new avenues of economic development for the people of Balochistan. Gwadar will be connected with main cities to expose the full potential of Balochistan. The CPEC will connect Pakistan to Central Asia via
the Eurasian Land Bridge planned under China’s “Belt & Road” Initiative. The Pakistani government plans to hook up the country with Central Asia via Termiz (Uzbekistan), making Balochistan the central point of economic activities in the region. Balochistan, in general, and Gwadar, in particular, will hopefully become the linchpin of the CPEC. Significantly rich in mineral resources, Balochistan can contribute to regional economic integration and, in turn, benefit from this economic opportunity greatly.
Challenges & opportunities
There are many challenges in doing business in Pakistan, ranging from unresponsive bureaucrats, inadequate infrastructure and a pre-modern mind-set among much of the population, to name a few.
Balochistan province presents many of these challenges and a few more in a purer form. The province also offers great opportunities to those willing to look for development under CPEC projects in this promising part of the world.
Backgrounder
The Balochistan Economic Forum, since its inception in 1992 has been striving to promote the economics of the largest province of Pakistan, to achieve these goals, have organized numerous International conferences on various economic related topics, including executive & corporate briefings, diplomatic exploratory missions, outward & inward foreign investment delegations.
The Balochistan Economic Forum also promotes and supports investment through Balochistan business houses, contributing to job creation and competitiveness; through ‘International Business & Investment Promotion Initiative’ to reach International markets to improve conditions that directly affect the private sector’s ability to improve ways to explore prospective business opportunities in the province of Balochistan.
The Balochistan Economic Forum strongly supports the Belt and Road initiative-BRI of the People’s Republic of China and China Pakistan Economic Corridor-CPEC