Pakistan is an important country in South Asia. Its geostrategic location makes it an important country in the region. Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia with a population of 220 million people. It is the fifth most populous country in the world with borders strategically connected to South Asia, Central Asia and Western Asia. The northern part of the country is the most beautiful. Pakistani People are famous worldwide for their hospitality.
Since the inception of Pakistan, the country remains a hot spot for the global powers due to its geo-strategic location Pakistan is known as the Gateway to Central Asia due to its Gwadar coast. Therefore the role of global elites cannot be ruled out in the context of economic development of the country through the trade and investment sector.
The visit of newly elected Prime Minister Mr.Shahbaz Shareef to Quetta is a good sign to address the long-standing issues of Baluchistan province. Furthermore, Baluchistan is the biggest province of Pakistan by land area, Moreover, Baluchistan is full of natural resources and due to Gwadar port, it is called Gateway to Central Asia and the Middle East.
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How can we make maximum use of our natural resources?
However, having a full natural resources province is counted as the less developed province among the four federation units of Pakistan, furthermore, N-25 National Highway connecting Quetta to Karachi is the most dangerous highway in Pakistan due to its single lane. So many fatal accidents take place every day on the N-25 highway and resulting in the loss of precious lives. Furthermore, the insurgency is the most disturbing element in the development of Balochistan’s current coalition Government needs to engage the people of Balochistan through their representatives to bring political stability in the Baluchistan Province for starting mega projects in the province and to bring CPEC Project on the fast track for the rapid economic development the country.
The current visit of the Prime Minister to Quetta is a positive initiative by the current coalition Government to focus on Baluchistan province. The announcement of the N-25 Double road is a good sign towards reducing the accidents and also reducing the traveling time between Quetta to Karachi and it would increase economic activities in the Baluchistan province. In addition, the announcement of the new Technical University in Quetta will open new vistas in the field of modern technology which can bring change in the lives of the people of Balochistan. Furthermore, the announcement of the Metro bus service in Quetta will increase connectivity in the city and provide a good transportation system for the commuter.
Moreover, providing laptops and scholarships to the students of Balochistan will bring them to par with other provinces of Pakistan. Bringing half a million needy people into the social safety net will help them to sustain above the poverty line. There is a dire need to bring the people of Balochistan into national unity and provide them opportunities of creating job opportunities and Public-Private partnerships and attracting FDI in the Baluchistan Province. Furthermore the increasing export of Pakistan through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by creating Special Economic Zones toward the specific targets for increasing the trade and investment activities in the country.
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CPEC’s importance
Through CPEC Pakistan can enhance export to the neighboring countries like Iran, Afghanistan central Asian states and India through value addition, moreover there is a dire need for good connectivity with the neighboring countries Pakistan can integrate the transport linkages with neighboring countries like Iran Afghanistan and India through modern custom processing systems and multi-model links to easily transfer cargo among Trucks rail cars, boats and planes CPEC can help the regional connectivity and to boost the conducive environment of the trade and investments in the region. Furthermore, it’s the responsibility of the newly elected prime minister to complete the development projects all over the country on an equal basis.
It is the perfect time to complete the neglected M-6 motorway from Sukkur to Hyderabad and KCR project M-L 1 and special economic zones; furthermore, current energy crises are hampering the export sector of Pakistan badly in the country it’s time to focus on the Tourism industry of Pakistan through ferry service with neighboring countries like Iran, Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia that Pakistan can attract tourist from all over the world and Pakistan can come on the track of economic development.
The writer is currently working as an Assistant Director in the Board of Investment Pakistan. The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.