China-Pakistan corridor: Visibility of the game changer

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2015-06-30 14:15:35

Editor's Note: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which will act as a bridge for China's Belt and Road Initiative, will be a game changer for Pakistan, the region, and the world, according to a report in Pakistan's media. Here are the excerpts.

China-Pakistan corridor: Visibility of the game changer

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 21, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

It is beyond question that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be a game changer for Pakistan, the region, and the world. The old Silk Road will be resurrected in the form of a new Silk Road and even a Maritime Silk Road, which will link this region to the world, East and West.

In the old Silk Road times, it not only served trade, the route brought disparate civilizations, east and west, closer.

In today's interconnected world, it is expected that these trade and economic cooperation routes will prove transformatory in terms of modernization.

China is our time-tested friend and its rise to eminence has provided us with a golden opportunity to transform our crisis-ridden energy sector, and creaking, old and decrepit infrastructure such as roads, railways, power transmission networks, etc.

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal pointed out that with the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan-China economic ties would come at par with the two countries' geo-political ties.

Daily Times, April 19, 2015

This was originally published on Daily Times. Click here to read the full article.

China-Pakistan corridor: Visibility of the game changer

A child holds both Chinese and Pakistanian flags at the airport in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, April 3, 2015. A Chinese naval vessel helped Pakistan evacuate 176 nationals from war-torn Yemen. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Islamabad to oversee the signing of agreements aimed at establishing a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor between Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea and China's western Xinjiang.

The plan, which would eclipse US spending in Pakistan over the last decade or so, is part of China's aim to forge 'Silk Road' land and sea ties to markets in the Middle East and Europe.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the corridor would transform Pakistan into a regional hub and give China a shorter and cheaper route for trade with much of Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Daily Times, April 21, 2015

This was originally published on Daily Times. Click here to read the full article.

China-Pakistan corridor: Visibility of the game changer

This commentary piece was originally published on Daily Dawn. Click here to read the full article.

Arshad Saeed Husain, president of the American Business Council, was optimistic about the China-Pakistan corridor, he said "Pakistan desperately requires investment in infrastructure and energy projects, so we view the announcement positively.

A deteriorating infrastructure coupled with energy shortages and compounded by security concerns have kept investors at bay".

Muhammad Rafique Ibrahim, a leading textile tycoon, was also optimistic.

"There are questions begging answers, but all in all China's investment commitment is a sign of growing confidence in Pakistan.

It might take some time before the gains become visible, but the bottom line is that Pakistan is not losing but gaining support," he said.

Daily Dawn, April 27, 2015