AN all-party conference was called in Islamabad by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a few months ago to build consensus on the China-Pakistan Economic Ccorridor in which it was decided that the western route of the corridor would be built on a priority basis.

Now reservations have been once again raised by some provinces, claiming that the federal government is giving little priority to the western route compared to the eastern route.

A road network under the CPEC has been given low priority. Just building of single-column roads should not be called projects under the CPEC on the western route. Most of the projects are pouring into one province.

When Nawaz Sharif came to power, it was hoped that he would give importance to less developed areas like Balochistan, the least developed province. There have been no mega projects by the federal government in Balochistan.

Most of the projects like energy, rail network, motorways are in one province, depriving small provinces. This will increase the sense of deprivation among other provinces. Pakistan could be a strong federation if all provinces are included in the sphere of development.

Projects on the western route should be started on a priority basis as was promised. Economic zones, rail networks and energy projects should be started on the western route as soon as possible and reservations about the CPEC by aggrieved provinces must be addressed. The situation could become complex if the federal government does not pay heed to it.

The CPEC will be a game changer in the region and bring prosperity to less developed areas. This could be possible when the federal government implemented the recommendations of an all-party conference in letter and in spirit.

Khyber Sherani
Zhob

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2015