CSS Current Affairs | Prospects of CPEC in uplifting the Status of Balochistanis
The following question of CSS Current Affairs is solved by Kaynat Fatima under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches. 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 past paper question is attempted on the pattern taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years, and uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Significance of Balochistanand CPEC
3- Role of CPEC in uplifting the status of Balochistan Masses in every aspect
3.1-Social aspect
- ✓Creation of Vocational and training facilities
- Case in point: Pak-China Vocational Institute
- ✓Construction of new medical centers
- Case in point: Pak-China Friendship Hospital
- ✓Road linking projects
- Case in point: Nokundi-Mashkhel Road, Khuzdar-Basima Road N-30
- ✓Building infrastructure involves constructing a stadium and airport
- Case in point: Gwadar Intl Airport, upgradation of Gwadar cricket stadium
3.2-Economic aspect
- ✓Enhancing opportunities for employment
- Case in point: According to Pakistani authorities, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will generate over 2.3 million jobs by 2030.
- ✓SEZs for industrial development(economic hub)
- Case in point: Boston Industrial,
- ✓Improving energy-related initiatives
- Case in point: Energy power project 320MW China Hub Coal
- ✓Chances for entrepreneurship,
- Case in point: Locals can construct homes, businesses, and hotels along the finished sections of the CPEC
4-Critical analysis
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
1-Introduction
The heart of the CPEC is Gwadar in particular and Balochistan as a whole. CPEC can improve the socio-economic status of the masses in Balochistan, particularly Pakistan. However, the PM of Pakistan claims that the second phase of the CPEC will bring a new era of socio-economic enhancement that will improve the living standard of Balochistan’s people. CPEC can uplift the socio-economic life of the people in Gwadar, specifically, and Balochistan and Pakistan in general, on social grounds through the construction of vocational and training facilities, medical centres, infrastructure, road networks, stadiums, and airports. Further, on economic grounds, CPEC can enhance employment opportunities, SEZs for industrial development, improve energy-related initiatives, and chances for entrepreneurship. CPEC is the backbone project of BRI. CPEC benefits Pakistan, China in particular, and the whole region in general. Thus, this question will answer how CPEC can uplift every aspect of Balochs.
2-Significance of Balochistan and CPEC
Before moving down the ladder, it is essential to shed light on the importance of Balochistan and CPEC. Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by land, but this province has the lowest population. Although it is rich in natural and mineral resources, poverty prevails in the province because of uneven distribution and injustice by the authorities; there is no proper road structure, health facilities, proper education system, Waderra Raj everywhere, and some non-state actors also create unrest there. In his poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, Samuel Taylor Coleridge rightly said, “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink”. The province is rich with resources but doesn’t get benefits from these resources. In this condition, CPEC is the lighthouse for Balochistan. Thus, CPEC is a ray of hope and prosperity and can cause the socio-economic growth of Balochistan.
3- Role of CPEC in uplifting the status of Balochistan Masses in every aspect
3.1-Social aspect
- ✓Creation of Vocational and training facilities
Moreover, CPEC plays a vital role in uplifting the status of Balochistan masses in every aspect, especially in the socio-economic sector. The social aspect of CPEC that can change the lives of Balochs is the creation of vocational and training facilities. Pak-China Vocational Institute was established in Balochistan, and it will provide 256 training sessions at a time and training opportunities for 1,000 people per year. According to Zhang, the Chairman of the China Overseas Port, “Technical and vocational institutes play an important role in industrial growth, and it is a golden opportunity for the trained youths to get employment in Gwadar Port, Free Zone Industry, and other projects of the CPEC.” Gwadar, in Phase 2 of CPEC, is going to become a hub for different sectors like automobiles, textiles, etc. According to officials, 249 jobs were announced from the project, and 135 were given to the local mass. Thus, this vocational training centre will be provided free of cost for the local masses; in this way, it will uplift the living status of the masses.
- ✓Construction of new medical centers
Additionally, the social aspect of CPEC that can change the lives of Balochs is the construction of new medical centres in Balochistan. Balochistan is a poor area, and there are no proper healthcare facilities. Pak-China Friendship Hospital under the CPEC can enhance Balochs’s healthcare system. According to the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), this hospital covers an area of over 68 acres of land; it is a 300-bed hospital that has been furnished with modern medical facilities.” Further, the health of the local people will be better, and they will be able to participate actively in daily life activities. Thus, the creation of a new medical centre can uplift the lives of Balochs.
- ✓ Building infrastructure
Furthermore, CPEC plays a significant role in uplifting the social status of Balochistan masses through the building of infrastructure like road-linking projects, stadiums, and airports. The infrastructure of Balochistan was very bad, with no proper roads and transport system. Under CPEC, the construction of Gwadar Intl Airport, the upgradation of Gwadar Cricket Stadium, and the construction of Nokundi-Mashkhel Road, Khuzdar-Basima Road N-30, etc., are very beneficial for Balochs. According to the Federal Minister for Port Bizenjo, “Local masses should be guaranteed their profits in the CPEC project”. Thus, CPEC’s building infrastructure can improve the status of the Balochistan masses socially and economically.
3.2-Economic aspect
- ✓Enhancing opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship
Moving further, CPEC plays a vital role in uplifting the economic status of Balochistan’s masses. CPEC will enhance job opportunities, chances of entrepreneurship, and local businesses like hotels and shops. PCJCCI Secretary General Salahuddin Hanif states Balochistan has new job opportunities because of CPEC. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will produce over 2.3 million jobs by 2030. The chances of jobs will increase through jobs, entrepreneurship, and local businesses. Hence, CPEC can uplift the standard of living of Balochs through different economic opportunities that lead them towards prosperity and development.
- ✓SEZs for industrial development
Similarly, CPEC plays an important role in uplifting the economic status of Balochistan masses through SEZs for industrial development. Gwadar will be the economic hub, which is the CPEC plan. Bostan Industrial Zone is situated in the Pishin district, which covers an area of 1000 acres. It will be home to facilities for the halal food business, electric appliance manufacturing, fruit processing, pharmaceutical, motorcycle assembly, chromite, ceramic, ice and cold storage, and ceramic sectors. This will enhance business opportunities and also job opportunities. Hence, CPEC can uplift the status of living of Balochs through different economic opportunities that lead them towards prosperity and economic growth.
- ✓Improving energy-related initiatives
Last but not least, CPEC plays an essential role in uplifting the economic status of Balochistan people through improving energy-related initiatives. Pakistan is facing an energy crisis, and due to this, the industry of Pakistan is also affected by this load shedding, which causes many job losses. Under the CPEC project, the main focus is improving energy-related issues through energy projects, including a 320MW China Hub Coal and 300MW Coal-Fired Power Project at Gwadar, Balochistan. Further, these energy projects fulfil the basic needs of locals and also become beneficial for the country. So, CPEC will enhance the energy capacity of Balochistan and thus become the source of new job creation, new business opportunities, and low-cost electricity to help in the national economic growth and development and uplift the status of Balochs.
4-Critical analysis
Critically, CPEC plays an essential role in uplifting the status of Balochistan people regarding socio-economic aspects. Still, some opponents claim that Gwadar Port is a debt trap for China, like Hambantota Port. This claim is wrong because it is not a debt trap. After all, the loan was not government-backed; private companies, IMF, and World Bank are also involved, so it is not a debt trap like Hambantota. CPEC is to bury the hatchet in Balochistan through socio-economic growth. CPEC is like a Marshall Plan that will boost the economy of Pakistan and play an essential role in the socio-economic development of Balochistan through SEZs, new job opportunities, and infrastructure development. Thus, CPEC is not a debt trap but a Marshall Plan for development.
5-Conclusion
The heart of the CPEC is Gwadar in particular and Balochistan as a whole. CPEC can improve the socio-economic status of the masses in Balochistan, particularly Pakistan. CPEC can uplift the people’s socio-economic life in Balochistan by constructing vocational and training facilities, medical centres, infrastructure, road networks, stadiums, and airports. Further, on economic grounds, CPEC can enhance employment opportunities, SEZs for industrial development, improve energy-related initiatives, and chances for entrepreneurship. Hence, CPEC is like a development plan that will boost Pakistan’s economy and play an essential role in the socio-economic growth of Balochistan.
CSS Solved Past Papers’ Essays
Looking for the last ten years of CSS and PMS Solved Essays and want to know how Sir Kazim’s students write and score the highest marks in the essays’ papers? Then, click on the CSS Solved Essays to start reading them.
CSS Solved Essays
CSS Solved General Science & Ability Past Papers
Want to read the last ten years’ General Science & Ability Solved Past Papers to learn how to attempt them and to score high? Let’s click on the link below to read them all freely. All past papers have been solved by Miss Iqra Ali & Dr Nishat Baloch, Pakistan’s top CSS GSA coach having the highest score of their students.
General Science & Ability Solved Past Papers
