Close to its completion of five-year
term the PPP-coalition government’s focus was on the recent economic
initiatives, including the handing of Gwadar seaport to China and the
signing of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project agreements, though the
nationwide criticism was understandable that such initiatives had been
taken only to draw out political mileage as the May 11 election date was
fast approaching. But the move forward, despite criticism at home,
pressure from abroad and threats of international sanctions, has been
firmly taken as the ground-breaking initiative; it merits attention as
well as seriousness as a pure commercial venture dictated by the
universally acknowledged demand and supply principle. If implemented and
sustained, both the agreement could be a turning point for Pakistan,
and the region, because it would have multi dimensional impact on the
economy. Though it would take almost two years to pump the direly needed
gas, yet it would give hope to an extremely energy deficient industry
and inspire the potential investors to plan and invest to reap benefits
from vast market of a country of 180 million people as well as
neighbouring markets in Afghanistan and Central Asia. For Islamabad, the
pipeline means energy security, which, in turn, means political
stability as Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called it
indispensible to eradicate Pakistan’s energy deficit. And if India, and
later on China, joins the power cooperation partnership, the regional
energy dynamism would certainly reshape into collective prosperity and
coexistence.
Besides the pipeline agreement and
change in the management of Gwadar Port, the grant of MFN status to
India, the signing of Afghan Transit Trade Agreement, etc indicate
towards Pakistan’s unflinching resolve and substantial political will
for regional outreach aimed at moving the South and Central Asian
regions towards shared prosperity in bilateral, sub-regional, regional
and trans-regional frameworks. This commitment under a strong leadership
can convince the US and world nations to recognize Pakistan’s needs to
balance their own economic needs with its responsibilities as an ally.
The handing over of Gwadar Port to a Chinese company is a stark reminder
of both the importance and strength of Pakistan-China relations. The
strength of this friendship and its steady growth are based squarely on
the convergence of their strategic interests. From purely a strategic
point of view, the future prospects of Pakistan-China relations are
quite bright. It was against this background that during the fifth round
of the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue held in Beijing in November
2012, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary and the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister
agreed that Pakistan and China needed to close ranks to face the
extraordinary global and regional challenges. Future possibilities of
economic and commercial cooperation include a rail link between Pakistan
and China, oil and gas pipelines through Pakistan to connect Xinjiang
and the rest of China with the Strait of Hormuz and West Asia via the
land route, and a rapid increase in bilateral trade. What we need on our
part is to create a secure environment that will serve long-term
objectives associated with Balochistan’s vis a vis Pakistan’s economic
development.
It is advisable that the new government
emerging out as a result of fair, free, transparent and independent
elections would show the spine and stick to completing these projects
though the chances are said to bleak. Because this is in our economic
interest for the future security and prosperity of the country.
F Z Khan
No comments:
Post a Comment