CPEC: Development in Balochistan

It was rightly said by Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif while inaugurating development projects in Balochistan that such projects in largest province of the country are not any favours but the rights of Baloch people. He expressed these views while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Sorab-Hoshab highway in Turbat and termed developments in Balochistan would result in the making of new and prosperous Pakistan.
The Sorab-Hoshab highway is one such development project, which has brought much needed road infrastructure in Balochistan.
The Turbat-Hoshab-Sorab section of the road was built at an estimated cost of Rs22 billion in just over two years. Prime Minister announced construction of two more roads, one of them would link Hoshab to Bela via Awaran and the other would connect Panjgur to Prom. The Hoshab-Awaran-Bela road will be a joint venture of the federal and Balochistan governments, while the 40km-long Panjgur-Prom road will be built by the Frontier Works Organisation.
It is good omen that numerious development projects are underway in Balochistan, which would help redressing the grievances of locals who often express grievances for scarcity of basic infrastructure in the province. Completion of planned road networks will give a boost to economic activities and other development projects under the CPEC. The social and economic activities have picked up in Balochistan after construction of road network. Local people have started setting up hotels, shops and houses along the completed portions of the CPEC’s Western route linking Gwadar with China. Boom in construction industry and mining of marble and granite industry is expected. Already social and economic change is visible in the province. Process of improving infrastructure will further create jobs and business opportunities for youth of Balochistan.
Balochistan is the centre stage of massive development projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), because success of the project is linked with development of Gawadar port which is in the province. It could be said that success of CPEC is attached with the successful development of Gawadar and road networks. It is quite important to take locals on board because without their support it would be almost impossible to achieve goal of making Gawar a hub of regional trade. It is often said that CPEC would be a game changer for Pakistan but it would also be a game changer for the historically neglected province of Balochistan.
Government should ensure that massive development projects in Balochistan transform quality of life in province. CPEC promises to create job opportunities for locals, but if locals are not qualified enough to take advantage of new opportunities then people from other provinces would take their place. Government needs to invest on enhancing skills of locals in order to make the m able to grab opportunities of new jobs. They need to be educated so they could claim their rightful share that CPEC offers to the province. Government should give assurances to the people of Balochistan CPEC project would improve socio-economic situation of local people. Only then CPEC would be a game changer for the province.