88 CPEC projects to benefit Pakistan with 2.3 mln jobs by 2030

by Fatima Javed

 

Various projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) benefit Pakistan and its people. [Photo/Gwadar Pro]

 

ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (Gwadar Pro) - Various projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) benefit Pakistan and its people. It is estimated that by the end of 2030 and with the completion of CPEC almost 2.3 million jobs will be created in Pakistan. Chairman CPEC Authority Asim Saleem Bajwa recently briefed the Senate Special Committee about the current status of CPEC projects.

 

The committee was briefed that so far the total number of CPEC projects are 88. Out of those, 19 projects have already been completed, 28 are under implementation and 41 projects are in the pipeline. The CPEC Authority chairman assured the committee that all projects will be completed as per timelines agreed at the time of agreements.

 

The completed projects include Lahore Multan motorway, Multan-Sukkhar motorway, Sahiwal coal power plant, port Qasim , Lahore metro train, fiber optics cable from China to Pakistan and so on.  While 28 projects which are under implementation comprise of projects like wind power plant, solar power plant, hydro power project and construction of special economic zones.

 

41 pipeline projects are already approved; their paperwork has been completed but the work on it has not started yet. Either they have been delayed due to the finance collections or are waiting for the right time to start.

 

For the past 6 years CPEC has generated around 75,000 jobs for Pakistani citizens alone. [Photo/Gwadar Pro]

 

For the past 6 years CPEC has generated around 75,000 jobs for Pakistani citizens alone. Speaking at PCI-convened online conference, Mushahid Hussain, who is also the Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, Pakistan Senate, said 75,000 Pakistanis have got jobs in BRI projects.

 

Nearly 47,000 people are working right now on various CPEC projects even during the epidemic crisis. Out of these, 40,000 people are Pakistani citizens including labors, engineers and technicians making around 82.5% . The other 7,000 are Chinese which include senior engineers and the Chinese labor force makes 17.5 % of the total number .

 

CPEC offers enormous opportunities to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to flourish. CPEC is greatly supporting small and medium businesses in Pakistan, many transporters are working with the CPEC projects. Also local people and businesses are providing various materials to the ongoing projects. SME segment is the foundation of Pakistan's economy and these businesses are learning from CPEC  projects which can help their businesses grow and flourish in future.

 

CPEC is going to change Pakistan’s economical structure and it will increase Pakistan’s GDP to more than 2 percent. This is a high percentage in terms of GDP increase for any country. With the establishment of all power projects and energy imports by energy tunnels, the energy supply security will be increased in Pakistan. With this supply of energy, CPEC is expected to add 2.5% into the current GDP and its growth to 7.5%. This is an ideal GDP growth percentage and can eliminate poverty and unemployment from Pakistan.

 

CPEC has also made exceptional developments in Gwadar. Some major problems were being faced including major water shortage. This has also been solved and the city is now receiving 1.2 million gallons of water supply daily. Dams have been built near Gwadar, from Swad Dam 5 million gallon will be provided to Gwadar. Shadi Kaur Dam will also provide 2.5 million gallon water to Gwadar city .

 

Progress has also been made for the people of Gwadar - a project is under way in which salty sea water will be filtered and through sanitation plant will be made clean providing 5 million gallons of water to Gwadar. In next 1 year this project which is also under CPEC will be completed.

 

Furthermore 300MW coal power plant inaugurated in Gwadar had lot of issues, all of which have been resolved. And in the coming months this project will also be started and Gwadar will not be dependent on neighboring country Iran anymore for its electricity.

 

The central park of Gwadar is also ready; work has been completed. Pakistan’s biggest airport in size and capacity is also under construction in Gwadar even during the wake of COVID-19 epidemic. By 2021 the airport’s phase 1 will be operational, enabling people from across the world to come to Gwadar and thus the city will grow to new heights.