CPEC project is the economic future of Pakistan and there will be no compromises with its security. The reassuring statement came from General Qamar Javed Bajwa – the Pakistan Army Chief after reports emerged that the new Pakistan government under PM Imran Khan is looking to renegotiate the CPEC Project. Is CPEC becoming the sour point between Imran Khan and the powerful Pakistan Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa?
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A statement on the official twitter handle of the Pakistan government read, “Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reemphasised that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is economic future of Pakistan and its security will never be compromised.
Earlier Reports on CPEC
Earlier, as EurAsian Times reported, the ministers and the advisors of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government led by PM Imran Khan said that the CPEC agreement “unfairly benefits Chinese companies.
The CPEC Project, launched in 2015, is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan’s Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.
Imran Khan, who was elected on principles of anti-corruption and transparency, had earlier criticised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for corruption in the CPEC projects. Khan has pledged to publish details of existing CPEC contracts whose details remained closely guarded secrets.
“The previous government did a bad job negotiating with China on CPEC — they didn’t do their homework correctly and didn’t negotiate correctly so they gave away a lot,” Abdul Razak Dawood, Prime Minister Khan’s Adviser on Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production and Investment, was quoted as saying by the UK-based paper.
“Chinese companies received tax breaks, many breaks and have an undue advantage in Pakistan; this is one of the things we’re looking at because it’s not fair that Pakistan companies should be disadvantaged,” he said.
Imran Khan has established a nine-member committee to evaluate the CPEC projects and the committee is scheduled to meet for the first time this week, said Dawood, who sits on the new committee. The committee will “think through CPEC – all of the benefits and the liabilities”, the paper quoted him as saying.
Even though General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reassured Beijing that Pakistan Army is committed to secure the CPEC Project, however, one cannot ignore the rift which has started to erupt after PM Imran Khan decided to reexamine the CPEC. Will PM Imran Khan be able to keep all parties gratified i.e. China, Pakistan Army and the people whom he has promised a “New Pakistan”?
