STORY: CPEC generates sustainable development in Pakistan: Pakistani economist
DATELINE: Aug. 5, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:44
LOCATION: Islamabad
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of CPEC projects
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BADIEA SHAUKAT, Economic consultant at Sustainable Development Policy Institute
3. various of hydropower projects under CPEC
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BADIEA SHAUKAT, Economic consultant at Sustainable Development Policy Institute
5. various of CPEC projects
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BADIEA SHAUKAT, Economic consultant at Sustainable Development Policy Institute
 
STORYLINE:
 
A Pakistani economist says the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has delivered infrastructure, trade and employment to Pakistan, resulting in sustainable development in the country.
 
Launched in 2013, CPEC is the flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Highlighting energy, transport and industrial cooperation, it is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
 
Over the past decade, CPEC has helped Pakistan build a number of green and clean energy projects including solar, wind and hydropower.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BADIEA SHAUKAT, Economic consultant at Sustainable Development Policy Institute
"If we look into the hydro project, it includes Karot and Suki Kinari projects, which are quite helpful in order to fulfill the needs of Pakistanis and Pakistan's energy requirements.
CPEC also built highways. It will definitely bring us more connectivity of those areas to the central (Pakistan), and ultimately enhance more education opportunities and job opportunities.
 
It will definitely bring us north area to the central part of Pakistan and ultimately enhance more education opportunities and job opportunities."
 
According to the Chinese side, CPEC has brought 25.4 billion U.S. dollars in direct investment to Pakistan and created about 236,000 jobs for the country by the end of 2022.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BADIEA SHAUKAT, Economic consultant at Sustainable Development Policy Institute
"One is trade improvisation. The Pakistani domestic manufacturer will have a lower cost in trade. The second thing is the regional connectivity. Through that regional connectivity, Pakistani exporters have a chance to export at a much lower cost to neighboring economies, which will enhance more and more opportunities."
 
Shaukat said CPEC also brought a renewed spirit in local Pakistani companies as they went into collaborations and joint ventures with Chinese companies.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BADIEA SHAUKAT, Economic consultant at Sustainable Development Policy Institute
"China right now overall itself is moving towards the green energy. I see that CPEC is efficiently going on. And in the future, it is aimed to build more infrastructure and bring more energy projects such as renewable (projects) mainly, which not only enhanced Pakistan's power in order to meet up its requirements, the local requirements, but it also boosted employment within the country. So, I think that CPEC, in real term, is a sustainable development model."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Islamabad.
(XHTV)