The small controversy over dualisation of the eastern and western routes should have been enough to make the government realise that it cannot easily fiddle with the framework agreed with the Chinese. PML-N motorway/highway projects have run into such issues before, with the leadership often agreeing to bend the route here and there to favour a few favourites. But the magnitude of CPEC, the players involved, and the promises made to the grass-root will not allow such adventures. In fact, just rumours of changing the west route had KP politicians up in arms, and tremors were felt all the way to the Chinese leadership.
The ruling party needs to realise two important things about the Corridor. One, it is a government-to-government deal; not a Chinese project with the PML-N. Ruling party leaders, especially the Sharif brothers, have of late tried to sell CPEC as a personal achievement, which is more than a slight distortion of facts. And two, the party has a habit of keeping secrets, especially regarding important energy matters, and keeping the public largely in the dark. This bad habit, too, will have to be shed.
CPEC is important, but ultimately it is one component of China’s greater Silk Route initiative. And Beijing is relentless in its perusal of this plan. All deadlines and deliverables are clearly defined. Therefore the Pakistani side will only hurt itself if it diverts mid-way or keeps important plans to itself. Already section of the Chinese press has begun expressing concern about Pakistan missing initial deadlines. Official comment back home never budges from the rhetorical ‘higher than mountains, deeper than oceans’ slogans about Pak-China friendship. But sooner or later more quantifiable elements will come into play. Pakistan must ensure all contractual obligations are met, and the project is free of controversy from beginning to end.
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