By :Muhammad Luqman

As Pakistan has started picking the low-lying fruit of the US $ 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with the completion of coal-fired Sahiwal Power plant, the project is generating jobs for the Pakistani youth especially those equipped with technical capabilities.

Be it Port Qasim, Power Plant or Sahiwal Power, one finds thousands of Pakistani engineers and laborers working hand in hand with their Chinese counterparts. The projects have also provided an opportunity for the Pakistani youth to learn state of the art technologies of Chinese origin.

Be it Lahore’s Mass Transit Project, Metro Orange Line or Karachi Circular Railway and dozens of other projects being completed under CPEC, it is sure that these projects are all set to generate hundreds of thousands of jobs for the locals in all the four provinces , Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“Work on Projects worth US $ 30 billion especially those of energy has started; this activity will entail the creation of more and more jobs for unemployed and under-employed Pakistanis,” hopes Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning and Development and Incharge of CPEC.

These jobs are likely to be on ground within a span of next two years as the entire CPEC unfolds in the form of projects in the fields of infrastructure, energy and other fields.

Even more jobs are expected with the establishment of special economic zones under the CPEC that will also integrate the nation into global production chains.

Many people believe that the CPEC project will become a game changer for Pakistan and will bring tangible rewards to its population. In this respect, it is necessary to map out concrete measures to expand the project by allowing more people to enjoy its benefits.

Despite the reservations expressed by a section of Pakistani nation and politicians, the project has the ability to play an important role in facilitating the development of Pakistan’s economy. The CPEC has made great progress but has also faced criticism in Pakistan over the distribution of projects among the provinces in the country.

The debate is not necessarily a bad thing as it mirrors enthusiasm for the project which could serve as a key driver for the local economy but such disputes could delay the overall process. At the very least, it has become more urgent than ever to try to ensure an even distribution of the benefits from the CPEC across the whole of Pakistan.

At this important juncture of Pakistan’s history, Pakistani nation needs to think beyond their personal interests and work together to push forward the CPEC. This, indeed, is necessary but a more realistic solution would be in trying to enlarge the rewards to incentivize more people to safeguard and stand behind the project.

There is an endless demand for investment in Pakistan and although it is possible that Chinese investment in the economic corridor will increase funding from just one country is unlikely to satisfy Pakistan’s appetite for capital to advance its economy and social development.

To broaden the scope of investment, China is expected to have an open mind about inviting third parties to join the CPEC. The project could also benefit countries such as Afghanistan, Iran and India as well as other major economies like Russia who may be ideal choices to take part in CPEC.

In addition to the benefits associated with the projects under CPEC, the arrival of more and more Chinese citizens in Pakistan is likely boost tourism sector, providing job opportunities to interpreters and those in the hospitality sector.

So it is time to benefit from the CPEC instead of finding faults in the historic opportunity, Pakistan has come across in its 70-years turbulent history.