Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism. Its soldiers, officers and most of all, its people are ready and willing to give more sacrifices to protect its sovereignty. The argument is that CPEC is one of its kind projects. Its benefits should be shared by the thousands of millions souls who have lived in abject poverty for centuries. Merely having a sea-port and roads would be like the Suez Canal for Egypt or the Panama Canal for Panama. Policymakers in Pakistan must insist on transfer of technology. It should educate, train and employ its youth so that it generates goods and services to fully exploit its great economic potential. Its businessmen and bankers are smart. Its civil servants once given protection and unshackled from the political influence can do wonders. They have the capacity to turn around the crumbling economy. Un-thoughtful nationalization and self-benefitting denationalization caused immeasurable loss to the state of Pakistan.
Dams should be built all over Pakistan and arid areas brought under cultivation. All social workers must come out and support the Supreme Court's efforts in raising money for dams. Pakistan is an agrarian society. For centuries people have employed old tools of production. Green pastures and meadows in the Northern Areas can be utilized for dairy farming. But most importantly, urbanization of the Punjab's cultivated lands must be immediately banned. Water resources and reservoirs must properly be managed. National Water Policy must be implemented. Village after village is falling to greed and quick money through urbanization. Housing schemes and societies must be rationalized. Some 50 years ago, Lahore District used to produce sufficient grain, vegetables and fruits for the whole city. Today, one hardly finds any area under cultivation. This is the story of every other place in the Punjab. This has to stop.
Regional powers must come together and fully benefit from CPEC. India must make a choice either to stand by its poor masses and support countries in the region to alleviate poverty and ignorance or to be judged by the history as a stooge of Western capitalist mafia. It is high time that all disputes are settled in the best interest of people. Western powers would make all possible efforts to create hurdles in the success of CPEC and encourage regional conflicts to sell their weapons. People of South Asia deserve to live in peace and with dignity.
Gwadar Port is operational today. It can cater for almost all countries up to Mongolia. Pakistan has given unprecedented sacrifices in blood and resources and it will not allow it let anyone sabotage this great project. It is very heartening to see Baloch and Pashtun leadership in joining national politics and shunning parochial and isolationist stance. Our strength lies in unity and self-reliance. Pakistan is a natural federation and people of all regions and provinces must realize the blessings equally. Dependence on others has to be shunned. Iran was dependent on America and even the main Avenue in Tehran was called Eisenhower Avenue prior to 1979. It faced sanctions for over 3 decades but survived. Leadership makes and breaks a nation.
Recent actions from the United States towards adding to Pakistan's economic problems are meant to dissuade and discourage Pakistan from pursuing this project. The letter from the US Senators only further establishes that standards of statesmanship have fallen to such a low level. They have forgotten that about 200 years ago they claimed independence in the name of high moral principles of equality of men and their rights to life, liberty and happiness are equally applicable to other people. Indian lobby is fully active to cause damage to Pakistan but so far their all injurious efforts and nefarious designs have failed.
It is high time that the new Government takes steps towards removing the disparities in different areas of Pakistan, which are exploited by the enemy. American and Western nations should be properly briefed about the goodness of Pakistan. They must be reminded that for the last seven decades, Pakistan has stood by them despite their flirting with its enemy. Britain owes to the people of this region who fought for its sovereignty in the deserts of Africa, waters of Malaya and trenches of the Middle East. It must pay its historical debt and help resolve disputes it created in South Asia.
True, Rome was not built in a day but at least visible steps in right direction should be taken. Journey is long but it has to start with the first step. God helps those who help themselves. Long live Pakistan.
(Concluded)
(The writer is an advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan and a former Additional Attorney-General for Pakistan)
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