CSS Pakistan Affairs | CPEC, Green Corridor, and Natural Environment of Pakistan
The following question of CSS Pakistan Affairs is solved by Maliha Noor under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches: Miss Iqra Ali and Sir Ammar Hashmir. She learnt how to attempt 20 marks question and essay writing from Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Pakistan’s best CSS and PMS English essay and precis teacher with the highest success rate of his students. This solved question is attempted on the pattern taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Understanding the China Pakistan economic corridor and its Importance
3-Implications of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC on natural environment of Pakistan
- ✓Deforestation and environmental degradation
- ✓Threats to Biodiversity: Inhabitant Loss at Large Scale
- ✓Increasing Pollution: Air, Water, and Land
- ✓Damaging Marine Ecosystem
4-How Green Corridor of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC Saves Pakistan’s Environment Future
- ✓Abundant Clean Energy Resources
- ✓Technological Leapfrogging: Bypass of Fossil Fuel
- ✓Enhancement of reforestation and biodiversity protection
- ✓Reduction in Carbon Emission
5- Pragmatic Measures to Curb the Threats of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) toward National Progress
6-Critical analysis
7-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project under the China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Undoubtedly, it paves the way for economic growth, strengthens global standing and increases its participation in international markets. However, it poses significant implications for the country’s environment, such as deforestation and degradation of the environment, threats to biodiversity, rising pollution, and damage to marine ecosystems. On the positive side, the Green Energy Corridor of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor provides multiple opportunities to saves Pakistan’s environment from multiple damages; for instance a shift towards renewable energy resources, aiming to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, abundant renewable energy resources, reduction in greenhouse gases emissions, technological frogging, climate resilience, and energy security. Nevertheless, there are the some pragmatic measures to mitigate China-Pakistan Economic Corridor implications for the country’s environment, including protecting ecological sensitive areas, improve environmental governance, develop climate-resilient infrastructure, and to promote reforestation and ecosystem restoration. Simply put, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a wide-range project which holds a significant potential to transform country’s destiny. Therefore, it is important to address these implications for long term growth and prosperity.
Understanding the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and its Importance
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is the multi- billion dollars project under the wide umbrella of belt and road initiative (BRI) which was launched in 2015, Its estimated worth is 62 billion USD till now.It connects China’s Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan. It is the game changer project for its regional connectivity, including China, Pakistan, Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America. This project aims to develop roads, railways, airports, motorways, and highways. These structural developments has enhanced the connectivity in urban and local areas. Moreover, thousands of energy projects have been installed to combat energy crisis. Development of Gwadar port has enhanced the worth of sea ports and Pakistan has become the hub of international market through sea routes. Special economic zones has created job pool for the local persons, thereby alleviating poverty, these all projects collectively promote tourism, and people to people connection.
Implications of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Natural Environment of Pakistan
- Deforestation and Environmental Degradation
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor has promised for the economic growth and regional connectivity but it forgot the repercussions of these projects on environment. As CPEC has immense implications on country’s environment, at large scale of infrastructural development, such as railways, motorways, highways, has cut the plants that can lead a country toward the deforestation and environmental degradation, and displaces many wildlife species from their nests. European Foundation for South Asian Studies published a report criticizing the CPEC as Greening or Green washing? Promises of CPEC has undermined the commitments to the green development and using the mix energy especially coal as its main ingredient of construction, contributing in hazardous environmental vulnerabilities. Plants are the natural air filter that inhale CO2 and make environment fresh and healthy. Moreover, removing of vegetation land with roads projects could cause a soil erosion, landslides, and flash floods, therefore, fertility of land can be damaged. Massive construction projects would harm areas, like Gilgit-Baltistan, Hazara Division, and Baluchistan.
- Threats to Biodiversity: Inhabitant Loss at Large Scale
Moving down to the second implication of CPEC on Pakistan’s environment is a significant challenge to the natural habitats which have been living in forests, wetlands, and coastal areas since ages, now could face the multiple challenges. For instance the development in Hingol National Park and along the Makran coast, fragile Karakoram and Himalayan can disturb the lives of the natural habitant species, for example Snow Leopard and Markhor, Baluchistan’s bear, Houbara Bustard, and marine turtle. A report from Environment Governance in Pakistan have published that CPEC has only kept focus on strengthening federal and provincial conflict resolving methods but underscored the environmental law implementation to ensure climate resilient progress. Moreover, the physical division of lands would impede the natural movement of animals, increase genetic isolation, and increase the risk of extinction for valuable species.
- Increasing Pollution: Air, Water, and Land
CPEC as a game changer for the country can bring multiple implications for environment. As the construction of coal power plants in in Sahiwal and Hub can contribute in air pollution by emitting sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, deteriorating air quality and causing respiratory illness. Moreover, industrial zones and transportation hubs discharge their untreated water waste, and chemical direct into the main streams of water which can escalate the water pollution causing damage to the aquatic and human life that depend on such water bodies. A report from Environment and Social Risk Evaluation of Overseas Investment under CPEC publish that this comprehensive CPEC project has formulated all the strategies but forgot to address the risk factors, like water contamination, soil erosion, and loss to biodiversity. Furthermore, the improper solid waste, dumping of construction debris, chemical runoff, plastic waste, degrading soil fertility and agriculture fields adjacent areas. If these factors do not address timely then it would cause public health issues, food security, and human loss.
- Damaging Marine Ecosystem
The development of ports under CPEC, like Gwadar, Karachi, and Qasim port having large scale dredging operations, port expansion, and land reclamation can lead to the mangrove forests destruction which is essential for fishes, crabs, and marine birds. Furth more, throwing of non-essential items in water, makes the water contaminated, the rise in ship traffic could cause noise pollution and disturb the migration ways of the dolphins and whales. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), reported that Overfishing to meet the commercial demands of the markets can hamper the productivity of the live hood, and fishing communities would suffer a lot. Therefore, proper policy making is mandatory to safeguard these challenges.
How Green Corridor of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC Saves Pakistan’s Environment Future
- Abundant Renewable Potential Energy
The Green Corridor of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), presents a sustainable development programs under the Green Environment Mechanism Framework. This Green Corridor aims to boost economic growth and a healthy environment. A shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy projects not only reduces carbon emissions but also decreases air pollution and several diseases. Moreover, Energy production from solar, wind, hydro, and biomass power plants have capacity to meet the growing energy demands, and speeds up the performance of the country. Energy projects like Quaid-e- Azam Solar Park, (Bawalpur, Punjab) having capacity of 1000 MW. This is one of the largest South Asia solar parks, reduces reliance on fossil fuels and provide clean energy. Similarly, Jampir Wind Power Project, (Thatta Sindh) having capacity of 100 MW. Karot Hydropower Project, ( Jhelum River, Azad Kashmir, and Punjab) having capacity of 720 MW. CPEC, Renewable Energy Projects mark essential transition in Pakistan’s landscape. These CPEC backed initiatives not only ensure a sustainable and cheap energy supply but also mitigate the ways of climate change.
- Technological Leapfrogging: Bypass of Fossil Fuel
Technological leapfrogging through CPEC refers to the adopting advanced, eco-friendly technologies while bypassing older and more polluting means of development. However, CPEC’s modern technology incorporates innovations, such as eco-industrial parks, smart electric girds, potential mass transit system, drip irrigation, climate smart farming, real time monitoring environmental protection, and leapfrogging. Moreover, these modern means of production, for instance smart farming increases yield, and drip irrigation enhances production in arid regions. Likewise, modern waste management systems reduces methane emissions these modern systems not only facilitate the government but also create sufficient tools for environmental safety.
- Enhancement of reforestation and biodiversity protection
CPEC not only provides economic opportunities but also a catalyst for green environment sustainability because green and healthy environment is the proof of prosperity. CPEC supports afforestation and reforestation at large scale. Similarly, it protects the national habitat and wildlife. The prime goal of this green environment corridor is to combat desertification, restore biodiversity, and generate carbon sinks. Over 1 billion tree tsunami programs are planned to be planted across Pakistan to mitigate the effects of climate change. Ministry of Climate Change, Pakistan & Chinese Embassy Joint Briefly stated that they are eager to transform the Pakistan’s fate from climate vulnerable nation into environmental sustainable and resilient state. Moreover, Chinese forestry technology adopted arid zones in Baluchistan and Sindh. This approach of plantation would pave the way of development with ecological preservation.
- Reduction in Carbon Emission
Pakistan with the assistance of CPEC has taken the significant step to reduce greenhouse gases emission, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). According to Punjab Mass Transit Authority, the project reduces around 30,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. This transition toward green energy does not only fight against global warming but also increases the multiple socio-economic opportunities for the country.
Pragmatic Measures to Curb the Implications of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Pakistan’s Future Environment
The china Pakistan economic corridor possess a significant importance for the country. However, it has raised the concerns about deforestation, environmental degradation, habitat disruption, carbon emission, and damage to the marine ecosystem. To mitigate these effects, the government should enforce rigorous Environmental impact assessments (EIAs). Moreover, it must shift its energy production from conventional method to the non-conventional methods, such as hydro, wind, solar, biomass, and tidal power energy. Furthermore, it should make green infrastructure, speeds up afforestation process, and to encourage public private partnership to raise fund for climate resilience.
Critical Analysis
The china Pakistan economic corridor, no doubt, has played tremendous role in Pakistan’s socio- economic fabric and has paved the ways of the country toward progress with its brilliant projects. Ironically, Pakistan has not fully harnessed the potential of the CPEC due to the multiple challenges, for example green infrastructure has been developed but due to its high cost and maintenance, the country has not achieved its full potential performance. In addition to this, CPEC main focus is to generate power from natural resources but due to the technical flaws and high budget it has not fully shifted to the renewable energy resources. Further, its infrastructural developments has created several hindrance for the country as it occupies the large scale land and the local communities suffer due to land division. Therefore, it is high time that Pakistan should have addressed these challenges for county’s betterment and national growth.
Conclusion
To sum up, CPEC brings a number of infrastructural and energy projects to Pakistan. However, the country would face immense environmental implications, like environmental degradation, air and water pollution, and expansion in greenhouse gases. If these threats are not addressed timely, they could lead the country to a quagmire of issues. Nevertheless, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor marks as the landmark initiative in the Pakistan’s history like never before, offering diverse opportunities in various sectors. Undeniably, it is game changer for the country, for it transforms the county’s fate and pushes it toward the bright future.
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