Webinar on Balochistan, CPEC held
Islamabad: Emerging Policymakers’ Institute (EPI) – an Islamabad based independent public policy think tank which conducts wide ranging research & analysis on the issues of governance, security, social development, and regional connectivity – organized a webinar on “Balochistan’s Political Parties’ Dialogue: CPEC and China’s Global Leadership during COVID19” on July 10, 2020.
The Dialogue involved speakers from most of the mainstream political parties of Balochistan to reiterate their commitment towards making China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a success and to discuss China’s achievements in tackling the Corona Virus pandemic at home and abroad. The dialogue also aimed to discuss the opportunities for Balochistan under joint cooperation mechanism on COVID19 to uplift its health care system, among other important agenda items. Governor Balochistan Justice Rt Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Yao Jing addressed the forum as keynote speakers.
Chairman EPI, Mr. Ahsan Hamid Durrani, gave the opening remarks by explaining purpose of holding the dialogue. He said that the dialogue is an important effort by his organization to bring together Chinese government and the political leadership of Balochistan to discuss the CPEC and COVID19.
Ambassador Yao Jing in his key note address highlighted the importance of the Balochistan to Pakistan and China. He explained the achievements of China in tackling COVID19 faced by and also appreciated the efforts of Pakistan in the war against the pandemeic. Moreover, he assured that china will stand besides Pakistan through thick and thin. China is helping Pakistan in every way to overcome this pandemic . He condemned the KSE attack Balochistan Liberation Army. He Said CPEC will change the fortune of Pakistan and Balochistan. CPEC is all about making Pakistan more developed and making more opportunities for business and commercial development between pakistan and China it is just a chunk and a lot is yet to come in the future the people of Pakistan should fully trust the chinese brothers and understand that we are in this together and no matter how hard the enemies try we shall always be one step ahead to taken them and their bad intentions down.
Governor Balochistan Amanullah Khan Yasinzai in his address said that both China and Pakistan need each other. If they have technology we have resouces. So we should use the technology to extract resouces and get mutual benefit. He further added that CPEC is not being digested by India and other powers and they are trying to sabotage it. Moreover, Balochistan need much attention in all spheres of society. We bloch are the true representatives of the balochistan not the BLA type orgs.
The panel included an impressive lineup of speakers from various political parties of Balochistan. Mr. Malik Sikandar Khan – Leader of opposition in Balochistan Assembly, Mr. Sanaullah Khan Baloch – Member Provincial Assembly, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Mr. Abdul Khaliq Hazara – Chairman of Hazara Democratic Party, Dr Ishaque Baloch – Central Information Secretary of the National Party, Prince Agha Umer – Member Central Executive Committee, Balochistan Awami Party, Mr. Jaffar Khan Mandokhel President – PMLQ Balochistan, Dr. Hayatullah Khan Khilji – Member of Provincial Council and CEC Awami National Party, Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani – Secretary General Pakistan China Friendship Association Pakistan, Mr. Bayazeed Kasi, and PTI advisor on cooperation with Chinese Communist Party. All the speakers reaffirmed their commitment towards CPEC and appreciated the responsible role that China played in combating COVID19 at home and abroad. Speakers stressed for expanding the role of Balochistan and increasing opportunities for Balochistan in CPEC. They also urged for conducting more such interactions with the Chinese Embassy to increase cooperation.
CEOs of two Chinese Companies in Pakistan, Mr. Ding – CEO Sandark chinese company, and Mr. Zhang Baozhong – Chairman and CEO and China Overseas Ports Holding Company Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., also addressed the forum and highlighted the projects their companies have been doing in Balochistan.
The heads of these Chinese companies ensured that their business and cooperation will not only benefit Pakistan at large but also benefit the immediate stakeholders the common people of balochistan, through the many welfare projects that the companies have done in the interior balochistan areas in the fields of heath education and energy it is a visible effort and is highly appreciated by the people of Balochistan.
