Quetta Declaration unanimously adopted by all major Balochistan political parties and civil society
Source : PCI Date : 22-07-2019
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“Friend of Silk Road”, under the auspices of Pakistan China Institute (PCI) in coordination with the Embassy of China in Pakistan, organized the Balochistan Conference in the provincial capital Quetta on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
This was the first major event of the “Friends of Silk Road” in the province of Balochistan which provided a platform for people-to-people understanding and friendship between Pakistan and China. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched by China in 2013 has China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as its flagship and pilot project, and in this regard, Gwadar Port located in Balochistan, is the centerpiece of CPEC. Thanks to CPEC, Balochistan is today the focus of development in various areas including Gwadar Port, Infrastructure, Energy, Education, Health, clean drinking water, agriculture, poverty alleviation and human resource development.
During the conference of Pakistani political parties held in Beijing on March 18, 2019 under the auspices of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, political parties including those represented in the Federal Parliament as well as Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan expressed unanimously their full support to CPEC as the national strategic project which is guarantor of peace progress and prosperity of all the provinces of Pakistan.
At Beijing, all the political parties of Pakistan committed to “creating favorable conditions for the building of CPEC” and “forging stronger consensus among different sectors of society in both countries “ through the CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism.
The Communist Party of China has over the years maintained very close exchanges with the political parties of Balochistan which has strengthened the ties and relationship between the CPC and the political parties of Balochistan. Similarly, the CPC and IDCPC have supported and maintained a close relationship with the people of Balochistan, and this close bond is exemplified in the grant of the Faqeer Primary and Middle School that was built in Gwadar.
Building on the national Consensus on CPEC, “Friends of Silk Road” is a people’s platform to promote better understanding between Pakistan and China amongst different sections of society in Pakistan, build greater awareness of CPEC and its benefits to the people of Pakistan particularly Balochistan, especially how CPEC is changing people’s lives for the better.
Today there are 25 different projects under CPEC in various areas which are either completed or under construction or planned for execution in Balochistan.
A key element of Pakistan-China relations is education with the 28,000 Pakistani students studying in China, including many from Balochistan.
Giving this context, Pakistan’s progress and prosperity through CPEC is linked with the progress and prosperity of Balochistan which is Pakistan’s biggest Province in terms of size.
Once a dream, the Gwadar Port today is now a living reality, thanks to CPEC making Pakistan a pivotal player in regional economic connectivity.
Participants of the “Friend of Silk Road”, representing the Government, political parties, civil society, military, think-tanks and the youth, also expressed their deep appreciation to the unflinching support of China to Pakistan throughout our history and they reposed full confidence that Pakistan-China relations ensure a better tomorrow for Pakistan and its people through CPEC, linking Gwadar in the South and Gilgit in the North, laying the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful Pakistan.