Showing a rare move of unity, all political parties have stood by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) and have vowed to take forward Pakistan-China relations to new heights besides working
together to create a favorable environment and positive public opinion to protect ties from threats. The
second conference on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Political Parties Joint Consultation
Mechanism (JCM) brought the political leaders on a single platform to “shape and safeguard the
enabling political environment and favourable public opinion for CPEC development”. The online event
themed as ‘Working Together to Promote Economic Development and Improve People’s Lives through
High-Quality CPEC Cooperation’ was organised by the International Depart-ment of Communist Party of
China (CPC) with the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI). The party which participated in the event included
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Balochistan Awami
Party, National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Awami National Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, and Pakhtunkhwa
Milli Awami Party. More Balochistan nationalist parties could have been invited to the event. The
occasion renewed Pakistan’s longstanding support to One China policy. President Arif Alvi said
Islamabad opposed any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of China with regard to Hong Kong
and Taiwan. CPEC has initiated a new era of development in Pakistan, and it is the single largest
investment on infrastructure. The project has faced vehement opposition from foreign powers but the
government remained firm in protecting the project and moving forward in Pakistan-China ties.
Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing also admitted the fact that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, both
countries remained committed toward the project and their mutual ties have become stronger.
PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Senator Sherry Rehman, however, has raised a critical point
which is often ignored in domestic talks as well that there is need to put all provinces on the same page
regarding project planning. There has hardly been any talk or consultancy on CPEC related projects in
Pakistan. Though no political party has made it a political issue, it is, however, in the best interest of the
country that the government from time to time invites parliamentary groups and mainstream leadership
to brief on CPEC roadmap projects. CPEC has the potential to drive Pakistan into the modern, developed
age when it has a network of highways and other development projects. There will be 700,000 new jobs
and 2.5 per cent annual growth in Pakistan’s economy. These are not small numbers.
CPEC has initiated a new era of development in Pakistan, and it is the single largest investment on
infrastructure. The project has faced vehement opposition from foreign powers but the government
remained firm in protecting the project and moving forward in Pakistan-China ties.