China Pakistan Economic Corridor and Third Strategic Partner ( Saudi Arabia)

Abdul Hadi – 

The CPEC is the project of the multibillion dollar belt and road initiative ( BRI) , a project of president XI Jianping at improving China’s influence around the world  throughout China funded infrastructure projects .CPEC successfully formalized between China and Pakistan. The value of CPEC is worth 62$ billion as of 2017.CPEC is the one of the largest commercial initiative in Asia and the major overseas  China investment as well.

In February 2014, that time Pakistani president Mamnoon Hussain visited China to discuss the plans for  economic corridor in Pakistan .In November 2014, China announced to invest 45$ billion on energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of CPEC. It’s a network of highways and railways to be built under project of CPEC. It will start from  Gwadar to China’s Kashghar , having two routes one is know as eastern and second one is called western route.

Saudi Arabic and CPEC

The Government of Saudi Arabia has signed the grant agreements with Pakistan to finance in different projects of infrastructure and energy under China Pakistan Economic Corridor. The idea of third party joining the China backed project is not new. A number of countries including US and Iran were also offered by Islamabad earlier while Washington and Tehran didn’t replied well. Saudi announcement of support to become the part of CPEC has emerged as an interesting case. Historically the Saudi Arabia leadership always offered financial support to Pakistan when ever country is in crisis. Saudi will make Gwadar a oil city and Pakistan has taken China’s trust as well while inviting Saudi Arabia in this mega project. Pakistan is facing economical problems from many years and as per experts CPEC has the potential to bring economic stability in Pakistan. Many projects have not really taken off because of political instability in Pakistan. China is viewing new government’s steps regarding the projects although Beijing and Islamabad agreed to include a third partner as well.

Saudi-Iran Tussle and CPEC

 All of us know about the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Some analysts say Pakistan’s offer to Saudi Arabia to be part of CPEC and Riyadh’s investment in western Balochistan province bordering Iran , can disturb Iran. A politician from Balochistan, Bizenjo fears that allowing Saudi Arabia to play an active role to the border with Iran would fuel sectarian conflict. He added bringing Saudi Arabia closer to Gwadar , is likely to infuriate Iran. Iran would not want a Saudi presence next to its border.

Public Opinion on Saudi Arabia Entry in CPEC

It’s really necessary to show the public opinion of Balochistan’s masses on Saudi Arabia’s participation in CPEC. I asked some people from different districts of Balochistan, and most of them welcomed this initiative of Pakistan’s government and majority of them were looking at it by religious perspective as they said, Saudi is a muslim country , we are not having any doubt in mind while welcoming the third strategic partner of the CPEC but many of them criticized new government of Imran Khan as per them this decision of entering Saudi Arabia in CPEC is taken in hurry and government hasn’t taken public in confidence while doing so. A reporter from Associated Press of Pakistan Ziaul Amin visited Gwadar for the first time as per him that local people were very happy over the hospitals and training centre established under CPEC. The people of Balochistan say, we should be facilitated as we were promised after the initiation of CPEC.

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