KARACHI - National Institute of Management (NIM), Karachi organised a seminar on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Thursday.
The seminar, titled ‘Challenges and Way Forward’, was jointly chaired by Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain and Minister for Information, Government of Sindh Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, while Dr Kaiser Bengali, Adviser on Infrastructure Development & CPEC in Punjab P&D Board Major Gen (r) Zahir Shah, Chinese Counsel General in Karachi Wang Yu, Peshawar Chamber of Commerce & Industries President Zahidullah Shinwari Sindh Adabgar Board, Hyderabad Vice President Mehmood Nawaz Shah and District Council Gwadar Chairman Babu Ghulab were other speakers at the seminar.
While welcoming the speakers and participants at the event, Director General, National Institute of Management, Karachi Roshan Ali Shaikh highlighted the strategic importance of CPEC and emphasised the need for utilising local resources to get maximum benefits out of the investment.
Special emphasis was given to the views and concerns, if any, of all the stakeholders, who shared their views, grievances and expectations from CPEC.
Opportunities for the industrialists, agriculturists, small business owners, tax and toll regime under CPEC, and the participation of all provinces, including Gilgit Baltistan, in the affairs of CPEC and projects therein, were the main subjects that were discussed during the seminar.
Dr Kaiser Bengali shared his views about the non-availability of any feasibility report on CPEC projects, and the secrecy being kept while sharing detailed information about various projects under it.
Gwadar District Council Chairman Baboo Gulab represented the inhabitants of Gwadar, and laid emphasis on the inclusion of local people in the development of the port city.
He also underscored the need for improving the capacity of natives for the purpose.
Peshawar Chamber President Zahidullah Shinwari spoke about the need for more projects for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the CPEC, whereas Mehmood Nawaz Shah emphasised the need for initiating those projects that focussed on tapping the agricultural potential of Pakistan by capitalizing on the expertise of Chinese firms.
While delivering his speech, Minister for Information, Government of Sindh Syed Nasir Shah called for addressing many misconceptions about the project.
Most importantly, he pointed out that the role of forces like India and its allies should not be underestimated, which, he said, were bent upon scuttling the mega project.
He also told the audience that many projects of Sindh had been included in CPEC eg Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Dhabeji Economic Zone, Keti Bandar Project etc.
He also stated that apprehensions of local people of all the provinces should be addressed.
Senator Mushahid hussain, Parliamentary Committee on CPEC chairman, who was the chief guest on the occasion, opined that there was a need to understand the context before understanding the CPEC.
He emphasised that CPEC projects should be viewed and taken up by rising above personal, provincial or parochial lines and interests because it was the best, rather the only, available option for rapid development of Pakistan.
In the end, NIM DG Roshan Ali Shaikh concluded the seminar by stating that CPEC was bound to bring prosperity for Pakistan. “However, it is not devoid of challenges and concerns, which can be addressed through mutual cooperation and understanding,” he reminded, and added,
“So efforts must be made to maximise the gains by forging partnerships and establishing collaborative mechanism.”
