Karachi University's Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization on Thursday held a seminar titled "Sindh at the crossroad of success through CPEC," aimed at clearing up misconceptions about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and explaining its various aspects. "I believe that preaching alone can never change a country, you have to change objective conditions as well," said Vice Chancellor Dr M. Ajmal Khan in his presiding remarks. He further mentioned that education, infrastructure and power resources must be developed in order to develop a nation.
The vice chancellor added that CPEC will prove to be a milestone in the history of Pak-China relations, bringing not only extensive job opportunities to local people but also hasten development in the underdeveloped areas of the country, especially Balochistan and Sindh.
Fazalullah Qureshi, a former federal secretary, talked about the railway and sea routes covered by CPEC and their influence on the development and improvement of the routes. He mentioned various power projects and transport infrastructure projects, including ten transport projects out of which only two are in Sindh.
Dr Tanveer Ahmed Qureshi, director general of the Sindh Board of Investment, spoke about Pakistan's per capita GDP being $1,400, while the market size of Pakistan is 220 million consumers. "We need to focus on three 'i's'-ie, institution, infrastructure and investment," he said.
He said Karachi is the financial backbone of Pakistan, since it has two seaports and is a gateway to Central Asia, Africa, Europe and China. The institute's director and programme co-ordinator, Dr Bilquees Gul, said the whole world has its eyes on CPEC and this project will prove to be a game-changer for not only Pakistan but the whole region. The dean of the faculty of social sciences, Dr Muhammad Ahmed Qadri, said CPEC has the attention of the international community.