A long-cherished vision of linking Pakistan and China across the length and breath of both countries is shaping up into a reality. In the 60s and 70s, Khashgar was linked with Rawalpindi by the Karakoram Highway, which did achieve a bit of trading activity but fell much short of any significant business and logistic leverage. In the meantime, China has grown to be one of the world's leading economies and wants to expand its access to the world through routes, which are economical and fast. Pakistan has the singular distinction to make it happen hence the establishment of the Pakistan-China economic corridor.
The corridor has its roots embedded in the historic Silk Road or Silk Route, which for centuries has had a unique role in foreign trade and political relations stretching to whole of Asia, the Middle and Far East, and Europe. It started from Xian in China and at Kashgar splits into three routes, namely, the southern route leading to Central Asian States and the remaining routes entering what is now Pakistan where it splits into central route leading to India, Iran and Afghanistan and northern route leading all the way to Rome through land and sea. This group of magnificent routes has left its mark on the development of civilisations on both sides of the continent. The demise of the silk route owes much to the development of the Silk Route by sea. However, the route had merely fallen into disuse; its story is not yet over. With the latest globalisation and changes in global political dynamics, economic challenges and availability of technology for speedy travel, the route will yet see international trade once again on a scale much greater with fast-track highways and high-speed trains replacing the camels, mules, yaks and horses of the past.
The Pakistan-China economic corridor is the resurgence of the Silk Route driven by modern technology but with the centuries old vision of developing trade, social, cultural and political harmony among nations. Stretching over a length of over 2000 km and costing over US $18 billion the corridor planning comprises an all-weather motorway with 200-km of tunnels and high-speed rail tracks along the route. It shall link Pakistan's port of Gwadar with China's bordering city of Kashgar providing extensive inroads into China mainland and far beyond and on Pakistan side multiple excess into Afghanistan, Russia , Central Asia, Iran and off-shore excess from Gwadar port to the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stated that the economic corridor is a 'game changer for Pakistan and China and also for the whole region inhabiting three billion people'. It indeed is a great game changer and testing times for Pakistan to make things happen. China on its part will make things happen on a fast track as the corridor is its dream project.
Pakistan, since its inception has been harping the strength of its strategic location and rightly so. But in the last 68 years, it has not exploited the strength of its location except many times burning its fingers in Afghanistan on the misconceived philosophy of achieving strategic depth. In fact, over the years, we lost much of our strategic location advantage inherited at birth like Karachi airport till 80s was the transit hub of all international airlines flying from north to south and vice versa. Same was the case with Karachi port where the ships anchored in queue to dock at the port. This all was lost to Dubai and other locations due to indifference, lethargy and lack of vision of our political and bureaucrats leadership and their lack of courage and integrity to forcefully confront the local and foreign vested interests who too had interests in the collapse of our strategic importance.
China will gain much in securing direct access to the warm waters to achieve economic, political and defence advantages. Pakistan too will be a great beneficiary. Much of the over 2000-km corridor is located in Pakistan with alignment running almost through the centre of Pakistan from north to south.
Motorways and railways spun economic activities and the social integration. In the post-World War II scenario, Germany and Japan emerged as the strongest global economies primarily on account of their early investments in motorways, railways and other mode of transportation.
The Pakistan-China economic corridor offers Pakistan the greatest opportunity ever to move out of the syndrome of years of lethargy towards economic revival and social integration. This corridor links the past glory of the fabled Silk Route to the future demands and is under global focus. Its success will turn around the perception of Pakistan from present poor to great and will position Pakistan as the country to reckon with. By 2020 China is seen to be the greatest global economy surpassing the US. Pakistan will be the southern gateway to China - a strategic location for the global powers to reckon with.
The key challenge to the government in power is to move the corridor project on a fast track by exercising good governance, upholding national consideration well above provincial consideration and standing firm and with courage against vested interests, which inevitably will be out to derail the project as has happened in the past with many great opportunities lost.
It is reported that the opposition lawmakers in Senate last week called upon the Chinese government not to accept the proposed diversion of original route of the corridor as proposed by the incumbent government of PML-N. Further, they staged a walkout in protest with a warning to the government to be ready for serious repercussions in case the change goes through.
The alignment of the route may well be an issue which merits consensus of all stakeholders but referring it to the Chinese government seriously undermines the sanctity of Senate and its members. It is the highest state body which is expected to solve all national issues within the four walls of the upper house.
The history will not forgive the government in power and those in the opposition, present in our assemblies and in Senate, if the given opportunity to improve the life of millions of citizens of Pakistan is delayed or derailed on account of internal differences. Democracy is all about settling national issues in assemblies and Senate in the best interest of the people of Pakistan.
(Chairman Avant Ventures and former President OICCI & ABB-Asea Brown Boverie)