News Analysis |
On February 13, 2018 President Mamnoon Hussain addressed an inaugural ceremony of the first International Deans Conference of Engineering Institutions organized by Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). He said, “Terrorism has been eradicated and the national economy is on the right track which will lead towards development and stability. Progress and development of Pakistan and the region is linked with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
CPEC will lead Pakistan to the path of development in this era of connectivity. Pakistan has been successful in overcoming many complex issues, including terrorism and national economy.” He added that Pakistan has been facing and countering terrorism, which had severely impacted Pakistan’s economy and resulted in increased unemployment in the country. He said, “This situation also affected the people associated with the profession of engineering.”
Apart from this, India’s effort to sabotage this project through involvement in the terrorist attacks in Pakistan is also a big challenge ahead. It claims that the CPEC route passes through disputed territories between India and Pakistan.
He emphasized the importance of CPEC and said that this project will not only benefit China and Pakistan but the whole region including Central Asia, which is also linked to this mega development project. This is an era of connectivity and its latest manifestation is in the form of CPEC. Therefore all the national institutions should play their role in the development of CPEC.
Read more: The medical benefits of a development project like CPEC
In this context, he also expressed satisfaction that Pakistan Engineering Council is cognizant of the future requirements of the country and has also charted out a strategy in order to discharge these responsibilities. He added that many projects under CPEC have been completed flawlessly after hard work and excellent planning and further we need to keep in consideration the international standards for the development of projects.
The recent addition of $100 billion to the cost of CPEC demonstrates that the total cost of this project is not fixed yet and more addition till its expected completion in 2030 may bring Pakistan.
The President showed his contentment being the signatory of the Washington Accord. He said, “It is of vital importance for the field of engineering.” Pakistan declared itself as a “Full Signatory” of the Washington Accord, which is the most prestigious international forum of International Engineering Alliance, in its General Assembly Meeting held in USA on 21st June 2017.
The ceremony was attended by the Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain. The following attendants also addressed the gathering on the occasion: Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, PEC vice chairman, Malaysian Society for Engineering and Technology Secretary-General Professor Muhammad Noor, Engineer Dr. Jameel Ahmed and local and foreign experts.
Read more: CPEC contribution to cross $100 billion in the next 12 years
CPEC is an inclusive project and welcomes other countries to be part of this project through investment to benefit from this. The year of 2017 witnessed a hallmark achievement for Pakistan by chalking out the CPEC Long Term Plan. Almost 11 early harvest projects have been completed or are near completion, which were mostly energy projects.
He emphasized the importance of CPEC and said that this project will not only benefit China and Pakistan but the whole region including Central Asia, which is also linked to this mega development project.
Along with all positive prospects of CPEC, it has some challenges ahead including security, terrorist activities and the Indo-US obnoxious stance on this project. The recent addition of $100 billion to the cost of CPEC demonstrates that the total cost of this project is not fixed yet and more addition till its expected completion in 2030 may bring Pakistan into a difficult task to manage its fiscal policies and manage its loans.
Apart from this, India’s effort to sabotage this project through involvement in the terrorist attacks in Pakistan is also a big challenge ahead. It claims that the CPEC route passes through disputed territories between India and Pakistan. However, the route will benefit the people living in the region because the development caused by the project.