CPEC hits several roadblocks sending Pakistan into a tizzy

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the 1,100 km motorway which will connect Xinjiang in China to Gwadar port in Pakistan through Indian territory Gilgit-Baltistan, illegally occupied by Pakistan, seems to have hit several roadblocks. Pakistan’s Planning Commission has brought it to the notice of the Federal government that the work has slowed down because of several unsolved issues such as free zone policy.

There would be projects worth of $53 billion in the CPEC. Out of that, only 17 projects worth of $13 billion is completed whereas 21 projects valued at $12 billion under implementation. Clearances are stuck for projects worth of $28 billion, more than half of the entire CPEC.

For CPEC, the second phase which focuses on industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan is the most significant part. However, the bureaucratic lethargy has led to uncertainty over this phase. As the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has not yet defined the Gwadar Free Zone Policy and Customs procedures business activities have not yet commenced sending a wrong signal to the investors. The government has issued 42 licences to the potential investors but business activities have not started due to the absence of free zone policy which was announced in the budget last year.

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The Pakistan Navy and Coast Guard also have not yet evacuated the land in their possession near the port. That has hampered the work. A delay in construction of the breakwater and capital dredging of berthing area is another reason for the delaying the project. The Pakistan Railways has planned to construct a track called online-1 in this area. This project is also stuck due to differences over loan required for its completion. The Chinese authorities want to give the loan in both Chinese and the US currencies but Pakistan is keen to secure a loan in the US currency.

CPEC includes integrated transport and Information Technology systems including road, rail, port, air and data communication channels, energy cooperation, industrial and economic zones, agricultural development and socio-economic development. CPEC Authority Chairman Asim Saleem Bajwa claims the project can change the destiny of Pakistan as underdeveloped area is being given importance.

The industrials, however, are not fully satisfied with the government. At a recent meeting of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in presence of Bajwa, the LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah complained that the government was giving preference to Chinese manufacturers over the Pakistanis. “There should be a level playing field for both Chinese and Pakistani investors,” he said. “So far, it has been observed that many products for CPEC projects are being imported at zero duty even though they are also manufactured locally.”

The Cabinet Sub Committee of CPEC took cognisance of all these hurdles at its meeting held last week. The committee was unanimous in deciding that Prime Minister Imran Khan should issue a stern warning to the bureaucracy to speed up the clearances.

Daniel Pearl’s killer acquitted; the US expresses displeasure 

The Pakistan Supreme Court’s January 27 order to release Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, convicted of killing US journalist Daniel Pearl, has angered the US. Sheikh, a 47-year-old British-Pakistani, was the main suspect in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter.

The SC also has dismissed an appeal by Pearl’s family against Sheikh’s acquittal. “The decision is a complete travesty of justice and the release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan,” the Pearl family said in a statement released by their lawyer.

Sheikh has been on death row since his conviction in Pearl’s killing a couple of years ago. His lawyer said the court-ordered three other Pakistanis, who had been sentenced to life in prison for their part in Pearl’s kidnapping and murder, also to be freed.

The Pakistan government has decided to file a review petition in the SC backing the Pearl family’s demand for punishing Sheikh for the killing. Last year a lower court had acquitted Sheikh of murder and reduced his conviction to a lesser charge of kidnapping, overturning his death sentence and ordering his release after almost 20 years in prison.

The White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US is very sensitive about this case and Daniel Pearl’s family and the US government both are keen to have this man (Sheikh) convicted.”

Pearl was the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 while researching a story about armed fighters in the country. Nearly a month later, after a string of ransom demands were made, a graphic video showing his decapitation was delivered to the US consulate in Karachi.

Ayeza Khan is a new star on Instagram 

Pakistani actor Ayeza Khan has become the most followed local celebrity on Instagram surpassing another actor Anam Khan. Ayesha, who’s most fame came from a TV serial ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’ now has 8 million followers on Instagram little more of 7.9 million followers of Anam. In December 2020, both of them had 7.8 million followers.

Anam along with twin sister Minal runs a clothing site Aiman Minal Closet. Last year, she was nominated for best actress at Pakistan’s Hum Awards for roles in TV shows ‘Ishq Tamasha’ and ‘Baandi’. Interestingly, it was Mahira who became the first Pakistani star to reach five million followers on Instagram in 2019. She had entered Bollywood in ‘Raees’ against Shahrukh Khan. These most popular actors in Pakistan, however, are far behind of most popular Indian actor Deepika Padukone, who has 52 million followers on Instagram.