Khalid Taimur Akram
This lecture was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Taimur Akram (Retd) – Executive Director, CGSS at the Center for Belt & Road and Research Center of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Beijing, China on 25th July, 2019
Social Implications of CPEC
It is imperative to discuss and explore the socio-economic impact at every stage of project development. In order to measure the socio-economic impact of CPEC, there is a need to generate and collate micro-level data at the district and project locality level and with a built-in information link to CPEC. This would mean generating some supplementary primary data to provide due to context to the conventional socio-economic measurement to serve as a proof of influence and impact from CPEC. The information also needs to be generated in harmony with different phases of its implementation. So, timing and periodicity are also key factors to be built into the info structure design.
Pakistan is the fifth populous country with a population of 207,775 million of which 63.6 % resides in rural areas and 36.4 in urban (2017). Socio-economic development is an essential requirement for the improvement of the quality of life, wellbeing of the people and the environment in which we all live. Socio-economic status is a combined economic and sociological measures of a person/a household/family in relation to other people in term of education, income and occupation. Any change in these indicators both positive and otherwise will affect the social-economic status of a person or household or a family. Besides, there are other indicators which are also related to socioeconomic statuses, such as health, wealth, political participation, psychological condition, household size, housing quality, safety and security, availability of food, basic need, and other essential services.
Employment Opportunities
CPEC is a transport infrastructural and development project which will establish many economic zones and industries which will create millions of jobs in the area. Chairman Gwadar port authority (GPA) Dost Muhammad Khan only said that Gwadar port is creating 40,000 thousands of job CPEC is in the initial construction stages and only this year 38000 jobs have been created out of which 75% covered by the local people of Pakistan CPEC is multibillion projects and it is expected that CPEC will produce two millions of jobs not only in Pakistan but for the entire region as it is also beneficial for the Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. It will also create opportunities in these neighboring countries due to engaging in many different trade and businesses in the region, which will eradicate poverty from the country and will improve the living standard of Pakistani people.
Living Standard of the People
CPEC is an infrastructural and developmental project which will provide thousands of opportunities for the local people like employment and business opportunities which increase their income. Moreover, this project will provide easy access to basic amenities of life like banking, market, transportation, education, and health. Specifically, it will provide access to education and health in different rural and remote areas these factors contribute directly or indirectly toward improvement in the living standard of the Pakistani people and lead it toward development and prosperity
People to People Contact
CPEC will provide opportunities for people to people contact. CPEC will exchange cultural and tradition of China Pakistan in the entire region specifically between China and Pakistan. CPEC will promote different tradition and culture of Pakistan and China and Chinese culture in Pakistan Moreover, CPEC will promote regional cultures and heritage within the country. CPEC will promote and develop cultural heritage and give identity to the different culture of Pakistan.
Political Consequences of CPEC
At present, Pakistan’s internal structure is at the juncture where it is not very stable that everything is under firm control politically, security-wise and economically. This makes the time for initializing CPEC somewhat perfect as long as in the future course of action it furthers into a geo-economical win for both China and Pakistan. The current government of Pakistan has taken a great ingenuity in securing this deal with China, its longstanding friend, and ally.
Firstly, if the government manages to pull it through and all the provinces get equal representation in this mega-project then there is no doubt about the economic uplift Pakistan’s industry will get. More than anything the provinces which are currently lagging like Sindh and Baluchistan will definitely start to develop more and more and as an offshoot, business ventures will perhaps go through a boom. There might be an increase in trading from these areas to international channels. In fact, if CPEC is to be an ultimate success it largely depends on equal participation of all provinces.
Secondly, CPEC will create job opportunities inside Pakistan along with the improvement of the infrastructure and communication services proving a step forward for the overall development of the country.
Thirdly, the overall security situation inside Pakistan is bound to improve, because it then solely depends on the internal peace in order for CPEC to come through. This is the one factor that is known to both the governments as well as security agencies. It is a matter of great concern that even today Pakistan has this fear of terrorism which is somewhat hiding away and only comes out after long intervals of time. Terrorism will definitely lead to the complete annihilation of this project. To make sure this does not happen, there would be involuntary efforts by the state, military and the agencies to completely wipe this peril out ultimately leading towards a peaceful state of affairs.
Finally, the project is going to bridge the gap between the state and the military faction. Both parties are equally involved in the stakes for the implementation and safeguarding of this project. They would perhaps work together in safeguarding this venture in such a way that is beneficial on the whole for Pakistan. This will, in turn, make both institutions stronger in their own capacity. Additionally, this bridge might as well make the state , the government and the overall structure more favorable to the public which at the moment has trust issues regarding the system. Ultimately the success of this venture and its implications on Pakistan largely depend on which way Pakistan is to go with it.
Thus, after all, is going to reshape the future of not only China but other states as well and largely Pakistan might be the ultimate benefactor. But for that Pakistan needs to play its cards right. This venture is going to be a bottom-up approach but in a matter of time, if not played right can easily turn into a top-down one as well. It is going to be a strategic venture, all of them are to be stakeholders in this situation. If Pakistan is to have an international standing in a multi-polar world, CPEC surely the way to progressive Pakistan.
