CPEC projects in Gwadar will bring prosperity in the region, Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch
An exclusive Conversation with Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch, Member of Parliament from Gwadar.
Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch is a Pakistani politician from Gwadar, who has been a member of the Senate of Pakistan since 2018. He is the Chairperson Senate Committee of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Chairperson Senate Committee of Special Committee for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Member of Select Committee on The Islamabad Capital Territory Trust (Amendment) Bill, 2020, Petroleum, Committee on Delegated Legislation, Senate House Committee, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Maritime Affairs. In an exclusive conversation with Huashang Weekly Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch discussed the range of issues including China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China-Pakistan relations, economic development of Balochistan especially Gwadar which are as follows.
Q: How do you see China-Pakistan relations after the change of government in Pakistan?
Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch: Everyone in Pakistan is of the view that irrespective of their political affiliation, leaders and workers of all the political parties in Pakistan support China-Pakistan friendship and CPEC, no matter how the international situation and Pakistan's internal government change, China-Pakistan relations will remain unaffected. The Communist Party of China has established friendly relations with all political parties in Pakistan, regardless of their strength, power or ideological differences. In recent years, there have been many platforms and activities for exchanges between Chinese and Pakistani political parties, which is a sign of deepening relations between the two countries. In this regard in 2019 at the proposal of the Communist Party of China, the political parties of China and Pakistan explored the establishment of a political party consultation mechanism for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, creating a new exchange platform for deepening China-Pakistan cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and promoting the construction of the CPEC.
The Pakistani ruling and opposition parties with different political views put aside their differences and gathered together to reach a high-quality consensus on co-building the corridor. Prime Minister Shehbaz, who is also chairman of Pakistan's ruling Muslim League-N party, recently visited China and met with Chinese leadership including the head of the Communist Party of China (CPC) department in charge of foreign relations in his dual capacity as party and government, highlighting the importance he attaches to the CPC and inter-party exchanges.
CPC has gone through a hundred years and led the Chinese people to make great achievements, which are a great inspiration to the Pakistani people. It is fair to say that in its foreign relations work; the CPC not only promotes mutual understanding through talks, but also "warms people's hearts" through actions. As 20th CPC Congress reaffirmed the commitments of the Party and the country to world peace and common development, with dedication to promoting a human community with a shared future through the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC is going to be more mature and mulita-dimensional after induction of new concepts like health corridor, industrial corridor, digital corridor, and green corridor in the next phase.
In the flood-ravaged Balochistan province of Pakistan, the local victims waved the national flags of China and Pakistan and the Communist Party of China and shouted long live the Communist Party of China and long live the Pakistan-China friendship. In 2020, when Pakistan was hit by the COVID-19 epidemic, the Communist Party of China also donated anti-epidemic supplies to various political parties in Pakistan through inter-party channels.
PM Shehbaz Sharif's successful maiden official visit to China right after the 20th CPC Congress as first head of government speaks volumes about the great importance attached to by the new Chinese leadership on China-Pakistan relations. I would also laud and appreciate the role of Ambassador of China in Islamabad Nong Rong for bringing the two nations even more closer. The Ambassador of China has many good qualities but what I liked the most that he always encourage relevant authorities and people for industrial revolution to become self-sufficient.
Q: President Xi Jinping has been elected as third term President in recently held 20th CPC Congress, how you see his leadership role in the betterment of humanity?
Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch: The core message emanating from President Xi Jinping's leadership is people-centric development and human security. President Xi Jinping must be lauded for achieving the goal of making China a moderately prosperous society by eradicating absolute poverty in China in 2021. China is now a global power and a global leader because of the policies and vision of President Xi Jinping.
At home, he made a remarkable difference in poverty alleviation, the economy, space programmes, infrastructure development, climate change and the Covid-19 challenge. China happens to be the only country that can claim the eradication of absolute poverty in a short span of time. President Xi Jinping's vision of building a human community with a shared future is gaining support from more countries and will play a vital role in promoting world peace and development.
After presenting the key outcomes of the 20th CPC National Congress, President Xi underscored that China will continue its fundamental policy of opening-up and provide new opportunities to Pakistan and the rest of the world through continuous development. China will further deepen synergy between its development strategies and those of Pakistan. The two sides will make full use of the Joint Cooperation Committee of the CPEC, advance CPEC with greater efficiency, and make CPEC an exemplar of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Q: What are your views on the development progress of CPEC specifically the projects in Gwadar?
Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch: CPEC is once again kicking off after a decelerated stage during previous few years as the present government reiterates resolve to resume the pace of work as witnessed during 2013-2018. The ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives under the supervision of its minister Ahsan Iqbal has resumed the activity and started interacting with the Chinese concerned authorities to expedite work especially on the stalled projects and include new avenues in the mega project. I would also like to appreciate Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who undertook three official visits to Gwadar to see the progress of projects which indicates his seriousness and passion.
Both Pakistan and China are engaged in CPEC development where number of new projects in sectors like agriculture, information technology, tourism and others would be considered besides reviewing work on the ongoing projects. The country is entering into the next phase that is even more important and focused on industrialization, agriculture, social well-being of the people, poverty alleviation and green economy.
The important component of the first phase was the Gwadar port which is functional now. Special Economic Zone (SEZs) being set up in Gwadar, a large number of Chinese companies were setting up their businesses at SEZs. The Chinese have constructed a modern business centre. There are several essential projects, including the promising Gwadar Free Zone. An elaborate master plan has been prepared, taking its inspiration from the Chinese port city of Shenzhen. A modern international airport is nearing completion, with test flights in March next year and regular flights a few months later. The port infrastructure is ready to handle far more traffic than the approximately four ships that dock every month these days. An East Bay Expressway has been built to connect the Gwadar Free Zone to the coastal highway.
The Chinese have also established a Research and Development project on plants and flowers that could grow well in Gwadar. A vocational training centre is operational now. A large hospital has been constructed and is being expanded.
Q: What issues Gwadar is facing and what are your recommendations to solve these issues?
Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch: Despite the development progress in Gwadar there are still some issues which need to be addressed. The people of Gwadar complain bitterly about the basic utilities of life are concerned. Freshwater is a major issue. There are two dams nearby where rainwater is stored, but lack of coordination amongst the concerned departments has stalled the supply of water to residents. The China Overseas Port Handling Company is now building a mega reverse osmosis (desalination) project to supply 800,000 tons of water per day.
There is also the issue of electricity. The town is not connected to the national grid, and relies on electricity imported from Iran, which covers segments of Balochistan, including Gwadar, but is not always a reliable source. 300 MV coal energy project of Gwadar under CPEC is nowhere to be seen and reports are that it is being shifted to Thar. The long-term solution is to connect Gwadar port to the national grid. Fishing is the livelihood for the majority of Gwadar residents. With the development of port-related infrastructure, traditional fishing areas and methods have come under strain, causing unrest amongst the locals. The coordination between the Balochistan government and Federal government is not up to the mark and there are bureaucratic hurdles in Balochistan government which is slowing down the progress of development. I have moved a privileged motion against the officials who are not performing their duties in this regard in the Senate of Pakistan. The government departments and organisation of federal and Balochistan province must coordinate and join hands in the development of Balochistan especially Gwadar as it is the epicentre of CPEC.
If Gwadar can be developed for the local people as a model city with reasonable amenities of life available to the people of the area, this could serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all cities hosting CPEC projects. Let the residents of Gwadar be the lead beneficiaries of CPEC. It is important to accelerate the construction of supporting infrastructure for Gwadar Port to unleash its role in driving interconnected development in the region.
Q: How important is Gwadar and its port for the development of Pakistan and the region?
Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch: Gwadar port has immense strategic and economic significance for Pakistan. After Karachi and Qasim ports, Gwadar is the third port of Pakistan. For being located at the cross-junction of international sea shipping oil trade routes, Gwadar has potential to become an international trade hub for Pakistan. The port would conveniently connect three regions of Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East.
This regional connectivity would bring minerals, hydrocarbons, oil and gas resources of Central Asian Republics in access for trade. Besides promotion of tourism, the port is attracting foreign investment. It is estimated that CPEC would generate transit revenue of US\$ 70 billion per annum through Gwadar port. Special Economic Zones would create huge opportunities of employment. Consequently, the increased trade and commerce activities, particularly in Baluchistan province, would usher in an era of economic prosperity of Pakistan.
Gwadar is a gateway to Central Asia and South West extending from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and Far East. Gwadar plays a key role of the pillars of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, because under CPEC various other projects are to be established, such as International Airport which is being under construction and expected to complete in 2023, economic zones, mineral economic processing zones, Industrial zones, and also East-Bay Expressway has been completed and operational to keep up the momentum of progress intact. So, all these development projects will indeed contribute to the development of both China and Pakistan. In addition, China is also eagerly planning to establish and spread a road network to connect the free economic zone to the newly constructing International Airport and to the sea port as well, the free zone that is mainstay of the CPEC economic trade and industrialization initiatives will serves as the commercial economic and industrial development of the region.
Gwadar due to its impressive economic importance and geo strategic location will serve as a vital source of attractions for the supply chain connectivity and growth and economical activities of the world. It is also visualized as a gate way to South Asia. That generates a massive inflow of money through commercial and transportation activities between Pakistan and china. The Chinese government has shown keen interests for enhancing the volume of trade and investment in the region, because it facilitates transportation to the land locked Central Asian Republics, provides crucial access to the Middle East, African and European countries that acts as a conduit to boost up their economy by flourishing the trade and commerce activities under the umbrella of one built one road initiative.
