Growing Chinese presence in Pakistan raises concerns

Gilgit/Geneva, Sep 17 (ANI): The increasing Chinese presence in Pakistan due to the construction of highly publicized China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC, especially in the illegally occupied territories of Gilgit Balitistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir has led to growing concern about unemployment and large scale displacement of locals. Despite being the gateway of the multi-billion dollars project, the investment in power projects for Gilgit Baltistan, which is faced with acute power shortage, is next to negligible. Even in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the total investment in power projects is only $1.8 billion dollars, the least among the other provinces of Pakistan. Apart from disproportionate distribution of funds, presence of Chinese workers has left the locals without jobs, hampering their economic development. The highest number of Chinese Nationals has been reported from northeastern Punjab province at 3,754 with allotment of 6,364 security personnel for their safety. Gwadar Port in Pakistan's least developed province of Balochistan plays a central role in the project. However, it has been allotted a total of 8 projects as compared to 176 in Punjab, 103 in Sindh and 19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The federal government has provided Balochistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan the least opportunity of development through CPEC, forcing the people to reel under poverty and underdevelopment.