A provincial government source, on the condition of anonymity, revealed to the print media that the federal government has ignored all projects proposed by Khyber Pukhtunkhwa for financing under Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC). The KP government had proposed several projects for inclusion in CPEC, but the federal government did not say yes to any of them. The source lamented, “None of the projects that were sent to the Ministry of Planning and Development and Reforms have been included in the CPEC,”
The KP government sent seven hydropower projects in Chittral were forwarded to this Federal Ministry. The total generation capacity of the projects is 1978 megawatts and estimated cost is $ 6.9 billion. Two grid station of 500 hundred KV with a total cost of $ 80 million and 225 Kilometer transmission line with a total cost $ 112 million were also forwarded for inclusion in CPEC. Likewise, the long pending mega irrigation project of Chishma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) has also not been included. Moreover, three combined cycle gas turbine power plants were forwarded to the Federal government. These thermal power plants are environment friendly and have the generation capacity of 225 megawatts electricity and will be located in the industrial zones that come under CPEC. “None of these projects have been reflected in any meeting minutes, nor have been displayed on the website of CPEC maintained by the federal government.
The KP government is equally responsible with federal government for not including the power projects and mega irrigation project of CRBC in the CPEC. The provincial government has the support of the leaderships of political parties on CPEC. If the KP projects of national importance are neither reflected in the meeting minutes nor displayed on the website of the CPEC then why the Chief Executive of the Province has kept mum over this betrayal of trust by the federal government. If the environment hazardous coal based thermals power plants and national heritage damaging Lahore Orange Train project of Punjab can be implemented under CPEC then why this injustice with the small province o f Khyer Puktkhwa.
The CRBC project was conceived in 1973 but till date the successive provincial governments till date failed to arrange funds for its execution from the federal government. The delay in the implementation of this project was not forcefully articulated nor agitated either in the National Finance Commission meetings or on the Forum of Council of Common Interest. Then who had to be blamed? The Chief Minister Parvez Khattak boasted last year that Rs. 120 billion CRBC Project shall be financed jointly by the federal and provincial governments and the execution process will start soon He never said that it will be executed under the umbrella of CPEC. The Project is of prime importance because it will provide irrigation water for 1.8 million fertile lands of the southern districts of the province. Had this project been completed on time Khyber Pukhtun khwa would have been a much prosperous province of the country, producing exportable surplus of food grains, fruits and vegetables. The self style champions of obtaining province’s rights under 18th amendment Awami National Party also failed to undertake the CRBC during their five years tenure of power. It is very easy to raise a slogan of province’ right, but it is very difficult to pursue this goal with sincerity and honesty.
