Recently Washington based think tank Stimson Center which has its several projects all over the world has been criticizing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Belt & Road Initiative. The Stimson Center which mentions on its website that it promotes international security and shared prosperity through applied research and independent analysis, global engagement, and policy innovation has its most of the work biased and funded false propaganda to divert the public opinion from reality.

Meanwhile World Institute for Sustainable development of mankind conducted the survey to check the facts and found that most of the Stimson Center report data is wrong or has been altered based on the bias reports. The Stimson Center published an article on its website which was also published in South Asian Voices authored by Osama Ahmad a Pakistani author who is in his early twenties and is not known journalist. Osama Ahmad is an Islamabad-based researcher and freelance journalist currently working as a Field Researcher. The author mentions the false propaganda against CPEC and China's Belt and Road Initiative in Pakistan. Stimson Center has its subsidery publication to spread its false propaganda via bias and incorrect data. We have studied the point by point report by the Stimson Center and have also approached high level government officials from Pakistan and have found the facts and in majority of the points have proved wrong. The so-called journalists which Unfortunately, Western propaganda has somehow found new pseudo intellectuals, dummy economists and fake journalists in the country who are questioning about the CPEC’s development prospects and linking it with “Doomsday Argument” which must be rooted out as soon as possible enabling the policy makers, main stakeholders, businessmen, investors and especially private sectors to jointly work for the initiation of CPEC Phase-II because cosmetic arrangements and weak national narrative drives of the ministries of planning, interior, finance, economic division and media have miserably failed to protect the safety, security and systematic execution of the CPEC projects and projection of the real strategic utility, scope and importance of the same. Thus immediate revision in the national media, security, economic, politics and diplomacy is the need of hour to move forward.

These pseudo journalists have also published another article entitled China’s Role in Pakistan’s Economic Crisis by Aleena Gul is an undergraduate student in Yale University USA and has coauthored the article. It seems that ongoing western power politics and trade war in Asia Pacific and around the globe is now badly hurting Pakistan and its vested interest. The enemies of humanity, regional peace, stability and development are directly attacking the China, Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) and targeting the Chinese workers and projects in the country leaving bad taste for both the countries which are now facing awkward times. Feelings are now high and temperaments are melting, showcasing increasing pressure of survival, safety, security and systematic approval, execution, implementation and completion of the CPEC projects in the country. The formation of a Joint Security Company, Joint Policing System, Integrated Information Sharing against terrorism and terrorist groups, provision of bulletproof vehicles, container scanners, electronic security apparatus along with the possibility of joint training of counter terrorism, deployment of Artificial Intelligence technologies, and the last but not the least, usage of drone surveillance systems/options should also be followed and used to eliminate the seeds and souls of terrorism from the country.

CPEC, the crown jewel of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has transformed Pakistan’s landscape since its launch in 2013. With multibillion-dollar investment flowing into Pakistan is a lifeline for Pakistan’s economic aspirations. Over the past decade, this transformative corridor has tackled Pakistan’s long-standing infrastructure deficits, introduced modern highways, power plants and special economic zones, and helped create thousands of jobs. The New Gwadar International Airport is now poised to play a crucial role in this grand vision, offering a new gateway for trade, tourism and connectivity. CPEC’s impact includes creating over 350,000 local jobs, constructing 1,400+ kilometers of roads, and adding 8,500 megawatts to the grid, ending power shortages. It has drawn over $25 billion in Chinese investment, projected to reach $62 billion by 2030, encompassing industrial zones, highlighting its substantial economic contribution and future potential.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary has defused the anti-CPEC propaganda by the Stimsons Center and the South Asian Voices. Minister Ahsan Iqbal, in his exclusive interview, he highlighted the progress on advancing key projects, including the Karachi-Hyderabad section of Main Line-1 (ML-1) and Karakoram Highway (Thakot-Raikot Section) project. The Minister also stated that the Ministry of Planning is in coordination with the National Development and Reform Commission of China to arrange high-level workshops for bringing together experts from both sides to outline the future direction of CPEC Phase 2. This initiative aims to define the specific goals and scope of CPEC’s “five corridors” and align them with, “Eight Points Roadmap of BRI”, and “5Es Framework of Pakistan”. 

Attaullah Tarar the current Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting in an interview condemned the false propaganda by the The Stimson Center and South Asian Voices. He strongly dismissed the false data by the so-called journalists. He said that according to the information available from official sources on being contacted, most importantly, the CPEC projects in Pakistan are also significantly contributing to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through infrastructure development and energy sector projects, CPEC was supporting SDG 9 i.e., industry, innovation and infrastructure by enhancing connectivity, promoting industrialization and fostering sustainable infrastructure. It drives economic growth (SDG 8) by attracting investment, creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty (SDG 1). Additionally, CPEC also addresses energy needs (SDG 7) by investing in diverse energy sources and promoting trade (SDG 17) by strengthening regional cooperation. Furthermore, CPEC initiatives also aimed to build sustainable cities (SDG 11) and emphasized environmental sustainability (SDG 13) through cleaner technologies and adherence to environmental regulations.

The year 2023-24, which marked successful completion of the first decade of CPEC and now Pakistan is bracing for the next phase, witnessed numerous achievements on several fronts. In the Infrastructure sector, the Pak-China Friendship Hospital, 1.2 MGD Sea Water Desalination Plant in Gwadar, operational dredging of the Gwadar Port channels and joint feasibility study of Karakoram Highway (KKH) Phase-11 (Thakot-Raikot) were completed while the New Gwadar International Airport was currently in progress and nearing its completion with the passage of every day .

In the Energy sector, 884 MW Suki Kinari Hydro Power Project was also near completion. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) like Rashakai, Allama Iqbal, Bostan and Dhabeji were receiving priority, with progress made in the development and allocation of plots for establishing the industrial units. An Action Plan for Agriculture Mechanization and Modernization had also been formulated and several protocols signed to facilitate agriculture export of Boiled meat and also Cherry and Chilli to China.

Furthermore, quite a significant stride had been made in the implementation of socio-economic development projects, with projects completed, under implementation and in the pipeline. Lastly, as many as 57 projects in different sectors for the third batch had also been shared with the Chinese side for consideration and these were under review for finalization. Meetings of the Joint Working Group covering Transport, Infrastructure, Industrial Cooperation, Science Information Technologies, Security, Gwadar and International Coordination were also held during the last financial year 2023-24. Lot of more information about CPEC as the year 2024-25 was planned to be the year of industrial cooperation, agriculture modernization, socio-economic development and scientific collaboration was being held up for want of adequate space and will be submitted soon.

Significantly, the Chinese BRI has successfully connected Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks. Remarkably, the BRI has attracted at least three quarters of the world’s countries and 32 international organizations. According to official figures so far, the BRI has established at least 3,000 cooperation projects, leading to the creation of more than 420,000 local employment opportunities. As a result, an estimated 40 million people have ultimately been lifted out of poverty.

China’s development over the past 75 years has been a blessing to global development, prosperity and peace. China has invested US$25.4 billion in direct projects in Pakistan, creating 236,000 jobs, generating 8,000 megawatts of electricity, and building 510 kilometers of highways and 886 km of the national electricity grid. Also, about 28,000 Pakistani students are studying in China and more than 20,000 Pakistanis are learning Chinese. Moreover, the incumbent government is considering sending 200,000 students to various universities of China to learn latest discipline of digitalization and Artificial Intelligence.

In mid-August 2024, Pakistan celebrated a significant milestone in its ambitious collaboration with China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The successful integration of the Suki Kinari Hydropower project’s first unit into the national grid marks a turning point in Pakistan’s energy sector. Set to be fully operational by year-end, this project promises to deliver approximately 3.2 billion units of clean electricity annually, powering over one million households. This advancement signifies a major leap in modernizing Pakistan’s energy infrastructure and reducing carbon emissions.The benefits of the Suki Kinari project extend well beyond its immediate contribution to electricity supply. By replacing 1.3 million tonnes of coal with renewable energy, it is poised to cut 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. This shift aligns perfectly with Pakistan’s broader strategy to combat climate change and meet international environmental commitments. The project represents a significant stride towards reducing the country’s dependency on fossil fuels and addressing energy shortages that have hindered its economic and industrial growth.

Since its inception, CPEC has been transformative for Pakistan. The first phase, supported by a $25.4 billion investment from China, was pivotal in reshaping Pakistan’s infrastructure landscape. This phase resulted in approximately 155,000 jobs, 510 kilometers of new motorways and expressways, and over 8,200 megawatts of additional power capacity. The focus was on developing energy and transport infrastructure, laying a strong foundation for Pakistan’s economic growth and integration into the global economy. With the advent of CPEC’s second phase, or “CPEC 2.0,” the focus is shifting from large-scale infrastructure projects to fostering business-to-business cooperation. This phase sets ambitious targets, including the creation of new sub-corridors focused on growth, innovation, and environmental sustainability. CPEC 2.0 aims to stimulate economic activity, enhance productivity and increase exports. The vision for this phase is to strengthen economic ties between China and Pakistan through innovation, green development and sustainable growth. By creating a more dynamic business environment, CPEC 2.0 seeks to unlock new opportunities for collaboration and economic advancement.

Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan

EGF Affiliated Expert for integrated Eurasian politics – South and Central Asia and the South Caucasus. he is President, Pak-China Corridor of Knowledge, Executive Director, CSAIS, regional expert: China, CPEC & BRI. Author at Pakobserver and senior journalist.