Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reiterated that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the economic future of Pakistan and its security shall never be compromised. According to ISPR General Bajwa said this while talking to Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan who called on the Army Chief on Tuesday. The Chinese Ambassador on the occasion appreciated conduct of successful visit of Chinese Foreign Minister and support for CPEC in Pakistan. The crucial meeting took place a day after Financial Times’ report, which quoted the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Textile and Commerce Abdul Razzak Daud as saying that the newly formed federal government might revisit the CPEC projects. During the meeting the army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had assured the Chinese envoy that the multibillion project (CPEC) is Pakistan’s economic future and there will no compromise whatsoever on its security. Although Mr. Daud himself rejected the Financial Times report insisting that his statement was taken out of the context but it drew sharp criticism from opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-N, which takes pride in launching the CPEC and initiating a number of energy projects during its last five year term. ” Without China’s help Pakistan would not have been able to address its energy woes”, the party said. Reacting to Daud’s statement PML-N leader Ahasan Iqbal said that the new government wanted to sabotage CPEC. Shehbaz Sharif the opposition leader in the Parliament cautioned that any attempt on the part of government to freeze the CPEC projects will be unfair to the public. Moreover, the Pakistan Foreign Office as well as the Chinese Embassy too have refuted the Financial Times report. A statement issued by Chinese embassy in Islamabad made it clear that there was a “firm consensus between China and Pakistan that CPEC is a mutually beneficial project and both governments will carry it forward according to the needs of Pakistan”. Prior to general elections, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership had expressed their resolve to bring all CPEC projects before the Parliament to ensure transparency. As they believe that the agreements signed by the previous government with China had given undue leverage/advantage to Chinese companies in the CPEC notwithstanding the fact that the previous government had held a number meetings with all political stakeholders so as to address their reservations and misconceptions about it. Despite the fact the government of the day has every right to review or reassess any trade and other bilateral agreements made with the neighbouring countries in the larger interests of its own people but before taking any decision in this regard the federal ministers or advisors should take into account the sensitivities involved in the matter and refrain from making off the cuff statements that create controversies, cause embarrassment to government or may probably displease a friendly country. Unfortunately, there are certain hostile forces in the region who are not happy with the CPEC, since day one they have been doing negative propaganda and trying to create doubts about it and therefore it is imperative that the government should remain cautions and make sure that every decisions is taken on the basis rationality and in line with the best national interest. The army chief’s recent statement speaks volumes about the importance of the CPEC for the country it is therefore imperative that such kind of issues should be handled with greater care.
