CPEC: BRI’s Flagship Project Promising Peaceful, Progressive and Prosperous Rise of Afro-Eurasian Region

Pakistan and China bilateral bond has proved its strength over decades. The new and the gigantic diamond in the tiara of Pak-China strategic friendship is a multi-billion infrastructural project -CPEC. The very same project has been bad mouthed by the elements spreading stones in the paths of Pakistan’s progress. CPEC is the China proposed and sponsored project aimed at welcoming development and prosperity. This project not only benefits Pakistan and China but also the entire region. From increasing regional trade manifold to enhancing connectivity and from converging cultures to intermingling civilizations, CPEC promises to invite and establish regional peace with the help of progress. CPEC is the flagship project of China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI) based upon the framework of peaceful, progressive and prosperous regional rise. This regional connectivity project helps in the rise and connectivity of the Afro-Eurasian region, the long dreamt goal of Pakistan, Russia and China. BRI isa Chinese designed project which ensures the greater goodof the entire region. The progress and connectivity in this region is perceived as a threat by the international financial competitors of China, arch-rivals of Pakistan and the regional as well as the international (self-acclaimed) hegemons. 

 

 

CPEC holds the immense importance for Pakistan if administered in a positive way. CPEC being the flagship project of BRI and being geographically located in the middle of the two regions makes Gwadar the soul and the essence of Chinese strategic rise. As most of the crisscrossing network of economic connections passes through Pakistan in one way or another by the means of CPEC, so, being the only land route, CPEC strengthens Pakistan’s geo-strategic position and makes Pakistan a major regional player. As CPEC would connect two regions therefore, Pakistan is provided with the opportunity of becoming the key player in Afro-Eurasian region and of fulfilling the leadership responsibilities, thus, increasing Pakistan’s geopolitical importance.

 

Similarly, CPEC enables Pakistan to steer the regional trade. This mega project would not only make Pakistan a regional trade hub but also a major trade player in the world. The importance of Pakistan in the trade arena would also increase manifold. Gwadar appears be the platform where multi-regional trade fairs would be arranged. The dependence of China and her trade partners upon Pakistan would further make Islamabad strategically imperative and strong for the rest of the world.CPEC along with BRI paves the way from ultra-nationalism towards regionalism and internationalism. It has the potential to bring different cultures and civilizations closer and to establish harmony among them. This harmony will put an end to the ethnic feuds and will lead towards regional progress.

 

 

Strategically, CPEC strengthens Pakistan’s position. It enables Pakistan to emerge as one of the major players. Not only this, but it also stimulates the realignment of the power play by empowering multiple players across the Afro-Eurasian region. The realignment of power challenges the hegemony of the major powers and threatens the rising powers -both aimed at suppressing Pakistan. It becomes quite evident why New Delhi and Washington have been teamed up to destabilize CPEC -the harbinger of regional stability and progress- by waging a hybrid war against it. Therefore, Pakistan is to debunk the false statements propagated by her adversaries and to put an end to the stereotypical approach held by her arch rivals because this anti-Pakistan propaganda deters the interested investors and partners. Islamabad shall spend all its energies to realize the long envisaged goal of CPEC. If managed, governed and administered properly, this infrastructural project would set an example of progressive and peaceful regional rise. 

 

In order to prove CPEC as the harbinger of peace, prosperity and progress, Pakistan is to keep her partners abreast of all the possible options and opportunities pertaining to investment. The actual potential of CPEC must be exploited and must be discussed with all the stakeholders, that how CPEC benefits them and how it serves as a door towards the brighter future.Pakistan is to maintain a balanced approach to ensure a win-win solution to all the stakeholders instead of a zero-sum game. Moreover, Pakistan shall maintain her neutral posture and must keep on inviting all the regional or international investors to be the part of CPEC.The federal and the provincial governments, of Pakistan, are to arrange Gwadar Trade Fairs along with the cultural events. In addition to this, a dialogue pertaining to the convergence of cultures and for the promotion of stronger socio-cultural ties shall be hosted religiously by Pakistan.As, CPEC appears to be a jugular vein of Afro-Eurasian integration and seems to be the vital force to play the lead role in the emergence of multipolar world order, therefore, all the regional players striving for the wellbeing of this region must work coherently and cooperatively to realize their dream of 3P’s i.e. peace, progress and prosperity.