By Shams
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A two-day National Conference on “Changing Security Situation in South Asia and Development of CPEC” is being organized in Islamabad from September 19-20, 2017.
The Conference is being organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) at Islamabad Hotel.
Over $51 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is being termed as a game changer for Pakistan as well as the entire region as it will boost the regional economy, infrastructure and connectivity.
The CPEC is a flagship project of $1,465 billion China’s “One Belt One Road (OBOR)” initiative which will not only connect China with its neighbours in Central Asia and South Asia but will go as far as Middle East and Africa.
The CPEC consists of a 3,000 kilometers network of roads, railways and oil and gas pipelines from Kashghar City in north-western China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to Pakistan’s southern Gwadar port.
By linking China with the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf through Pakistan, the CPEC will expand trade potential and enhance energy and security presence of China not only in the region but as far as Africa.
The project can be considered as a package that will boost Chinese as well as Pakistani economies by providing transport and energy: roads, bridges, gas pipelines, ports, railways, energy plants to Pakistan and a deep regional security mechanism to China while overseeing and manage safekeeping of Chinese assets.
However multi-faceted security threats continue to hover over CPEC; therefore, China as well as Pakistani leadership including the army have extended their unwavering support for the security of the project.
