Pakhtuns nationalist party ANP Friday warned federal government of launching strong resistance against the changing of the root of Sino-Pak Gawadar-Kashgar Economic Corridor. The remarks were observed in the proceedings of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during debate on issue before the passage of a unanimous resolution over the matter.
The joint resolution against change in the route of the economic corridor was read out in the house by Provincial Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE), Shah Farman, parliamentary leader of ANP, Sardar Hussain Babak, and parliamentary leader of PPP, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha and parliamentary leader of PML-N, Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotah.
The resolution said that as Pakistan and China under an agreement for Gawadar-Kashgar Economic Corridor have proposed a very feasible route for the completion of the project, which was commencing from Kashgar in China was reaching Gawadar Port via Silk-Route, Abbottabad, Mianwali, D.I. Khan and Zob of Balochistan province.
The project would bear very positive impacts on several backward areas of the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Balochistan and Mianwali district of Punjab. This part of the country due to terrorism has remained very backward and the project is considered a lifeline for its economic uplift. Speaking in favour of the resolution said that the project is the backbone of the economy of the Pakhtuns belt in Pakistan while the Peoples Republic of China is taking keen interest in it and is golden opportunity for the economic development.
Criticising change in the route of the project, he asked the Prime Minister to clarified that either he is also keen in the economic uplift of the area. He asked the federal government for withdrawal of the decision with immediate effect. Otherwise, he said ANP will launch more vigorous resistance against the project than it was witnessed against the controversial Kalabagh Dam.
The young and emotional ANP parliamentarian also urged the PTI chief Imran Khan for joining those political parties, which are raising voice for the rights of the province. He even went one step more forward and announced full participation in any such protest rally or sit-in of the PTI chief in this regard. He said that the Prime Minister should confess his mistake with immediate effect.
He further asked the prime minister that whether large number of the members of National Assembly from Punjab even from all the remaining three provinces is justice on which he is usurping the rights of small provinces. He warned that today they are peaceful, but the responsibility of tomorrow will rest on the rulers. The parliamentary leader of ANP urged all members of the house for taking unanimous stand, saying the decision had hurt the Pakhtuns.
Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao of the QWP said that the project have to benefit millions of population and earn Rs 100 billion per annum. However, he said that now the federal government has deferred work on its western part and is implementing only eastern part.
He said that as the portion of the project passing from our province was more feasible and is also in the interest of the Peoples' Republic of China. He said that the project will also help tap the mineral potentials of the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said that injustices like changing the route of such important projects will increase the sense of deprivation in the province, saying they had already unveiled the stance of their party. He warned that for the achievement of the rights of the province they could go any extent.
On behalf of the treasury benches, Provincial Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE) said that the speech of Sardar Hussain Babak represents the feelings of the whole province and the house. He said that the sense of deprivation in small provinces is growing as neither we could uplift our share in water nor in electricity. He said that though the province is self-sufficient in gas generation, but our province is still facing the load shedding. He said that as they could not snatch the importance of Karachi, therefore others should also accept our advantages. The Speaker, later put the resolution to vote and the house adopted it unanimously. Later, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings of the house till Monday.