ISLAMABAD – Chief Minister Jam Kamal’s government in Balochistan might nothave brought in any major changes yet, but it has changed the approach ofthe province towards the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC). The new government has repeatedly made the claim that Balochistanis not getting the fruits of CPEC, and that the most impoverished provinceof Pakistan will miss out on the development the initiative promises to theentire country.
The former government in Balochistan, which was jointly ruled by thePakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the National Party and PakhtunkhwaMilli Awami Party, did not raise any objections or issues about Balochistannot getting enough development projects under CPEC. However, all thatchanged when Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) took power under the leadershipof Jam Kamal.
Jam’s new government claimed that in last five years, Balochistan got onlytwo projects under CPEC – the Gwadar port and the HUBCO power plant. BAPfounder Saeed Hashmi went on to claim that the western route of CPEC, whichpasses through Balochistan, has been excluded from the project’s fundingagenda.
Balochistan’s government developing some sort of hostility towards CPECdecision making in Pakistan comes ahead of the 8th Joint CoordinationCommittee meeting
Balochistan’s government developing some sort of hostility towards CPECdecision making in Pakistan comes ahead of the 8th Joint CoordinationCommittee (JCC) meeting of CPEC. The JCC is the apex decision making bodyof CPEC, which meets once a year to decide the course of the project forthe next year. The 8th JCC took place on December 20 and representatives ofthe Balochistan government were to attend the meeting with renewed demands.
But to express his displeasure over, Jam Kamal is not attending 8th JCC.Well-placed sources in the government confirmed to this scribe that thechief minister sent a low-level delegation to attend the meeting as apressure tactic, to ensure that demands of Balochistan were met vis-à-visCPEC.
The renewed approach of Balochistan’s government regarding CPEC is focusedon socio-economic development. The government wants to add additionalprojects in the CPEC which can contribute to socio-economic development inthe province. Previously, the few projects which Balochistan got under CPECwere only related to infrastructure in and around Gwadar.
Zahoor Buledi, provincial minister for information, confirmed to thisscribe the Balochistan government was pressing for socio-economicdevelopment projects. “In the past, Balochistan did not get its rightfulshare from the federal government,” he said. He added that the newprovincial government had proposed several new projects which would bepresented to the Chinese during 8th JCC meeting.
The Balochistan government is asking for nine additional projects forBalochistan at the 8th JCC meeting. Balochistan will pitch for expandinghighways of the province and making them four-lane dual carriageways.Western route highways, from Dera Ismail Khan to Zhob to Quetta to Surab,should be made a dual-carriage highway, according to the demands of theBalochistan government. Previously, these roads were not a part of the CPECfunding agenda but now the government wants to change that.
Moreover, Balochistan government is also making a case for theestablishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Hub and Bostan. These SEZswill kick-start industrial development in the province if this plan goesahead after 8th JCC meeting. In addition, the government will also demandestablishment of a date processing plant in Turbat and construction of BurjAziz Dam to supply water to Quetta, which is facing severe water shortage.
Lastly, Balochistan’s wish list includes an employment generation programcalled Balochistan Rural Livelihood Program which imparts technicaltraining to 5,000 youth from the province. These proposed projects willpave the way for human resource development in the province.
These proposed projects look very attractive but can they be reallyeffective in revitalizing the economy of the province?
Mahfooz Ali Khan, former finance secretary of Balochistan, believes thatthe province needs an energy generation and industrial centre. “If we[Balochistan government] succeed in attracting investment inincome-generating projects, [then] the objective will be achieved,” hetold *TheFriday Times*. He added that in all CPEC projects, local collaborationsshould be made mandatory for greater benefits.
This new approach by the Balochistan government has puzzled politicalpundits and commentators. People are wondering how and why has Jam Kamaltaken a stand against the PTI government, which is an ally of BAP in boththe centre and the province?
BY: Adnan Amir