‘CPEC's success hinges on inclusive development in Balochistan’

QUETTA: CPEC's success hinges on inclusive development in Balochistan, emphasized speakers at a seminar held in Quetta, urging strategic investments in youth, women, and local infrastructure to unlock the province’s full potential.

Organized by the Centre for Development and Stability (CDS), the seminar titled “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Regional Connectivity, Innovation, and Security in Balochistan” brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including policymakers, academics, tribal leaders, youth activists, and development professionals.

Dr Irfan Ashraf, Director General CDS, provided a comprehensive overview of CPEC’s benefits, citing projects like 10,000 solar lighting systems, a new emergency medical centre in Quetta, and 50,000 health kits distributed in schools.

Maimona Saleem called for integrating women's empowerment into industrial planning under CPEC, recommending dedicated support for women-led businesses.

Sardar Haroon Khan Jamali, Chief of the Jamali Tribe, spoke on the development potential of Usta Muhammad District, while Hafeez Ullah Jamote, founder of Jamote Youth Balochistan, highlighted the importance of youth-focused reforms, scholarships, and representation.

Senior geopolitical analyst Mr. Raja Faisal warned of India’s hybrid warfare tactics to destabilize CPEC, urging national unity and strategic discipline.

Former Balochistan Chief Minister Alla Uddin Marri questioned how high-tech CPEC benefits could be realized without addressing basic infrastructure gaps in the province.

Advocate Mir Atta Ullah Langove, President of Balochistan High Court Bar, said CPEC must drive local development, and Mr. Babar Khajjak, youth activist and politician, criticized governance failures that hinder CPEC’s local impact.

Academic Dr Dost Barreech stressed Balochistan’s untapped potential in minerals, agriculture, tourism, and the blue economy, calling for a geo-economics approach to national planning.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025