Claims of Ambassador Alice Wells against CPEC and response of Foreign Office of Pakistan creates a blur scene for readers

Eurasia News

Islamabad, Pakistan: In a state of affairs where United States is claiming non-transparency in CPEC projects and Chinese Embassy in Pakistan is strongly rejecting such claims, response came from Spokesperson of Foreign Office of Pakistan on Thursday during her weekly briefing left a blur scene for readers about who to blame for misguiding readers?

On Thursday, the Spokesperson of Foreign Office of Pakistan during her weekly briefing faced several questions from journalists in reference to statement of Ambassador Wells.

Pointers of questions raised by journalists include:

  • Ambassador Alice Wells says there is no transparency in CPEC project and companies blacklisted by the World Bank has got contracts in the CPEC. What is real situation?
  • Why the Foreign Office has not responded as yet to the remarks made by Ambassador Wells on CPEC, whereas the Chinese Embassy has reacted strongly on this?
  • Is it not (Statement of Ambassador Wells) interference in the internal matters between Pakistan and China?
  • Ambassador Wells also criticized ML-1 project of railways. Would you please comment on this?
  • It is not the first time that Ambassador Alice Wells has expressed her concerns on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Has she also conveyed her concerns on the issue of CPEC during her meetings in the Foreign Office?
  • The remarks by Ambassador Alice Wells and reaction of Chinese Embassy were very strong. What is Foreign Office official take on?

 

Her answer was:

Pakistan and China are “All-Weather Strategic Co-operative Partners”. We have already underscored that the CPEC is a transformational project. The expeditious completion of the CPEC project is the number one priority of our government. In that regard, recently CPEC Authority has been established to oversee completion of projects across the country.

Since the launch of CPEC, in energy sector, 12 power projects have either been completed or are under construction with total capacity of 7,240 MW and investment of USD 12.4 billion. Another 9 projects are at an early stage with total capacity of 6,390 MW. CPEC energy projects contribute over 14 % of total energy supply in Pakistan, which could be supplied to over 33 million people on per capita power use basis. In addition, these projects have paid about USD 250 million in taxes during construction period and have created over 10,000 jobs.

There are a number of projects that are financed through Chinese grants and concessional loans. To claim that CPEC is always in the form of loans or other forms of financing, often non-concessional with sovereign guarantees is not based on facts. The total CPEC debt is about 4.9 billion dollars which is not even 10% of our total debt.

It is reiterated that CPEC, a long-term project negotiated through multi-tiered processes, has helped address development gaps in energy, infrastructure, industrialization, and job creation in Pakistan. It should be perceived in terms of its enormous economic benefits for the people of Pakistan and our socio-economic development. We believe it is also beneficial in the context of both regional connectivity and prosperity. All countries are welcome to invest in SEZs of CPEC. 

Whosoever was listening her answers felt that:

  • She did not answer whether claims of Ambassador Wells for hiring companies blacklisted by the World Bank getting contracts in the CPEC is true or false?
  • She did not answer whether statements of Ambassador Alice Wells are interference in the internal matters between Pakistan and China or not?
  • She did not answer whether claims of Ambassador Wells about alleged non-transparency in ML-1 project of railways are true or false?
  • She did not answer whether Ambassador Wells conveyed her concerns on the issue of CPEC during her meetings in the Foreign Office this week?

Who will answer straight and with clarity about claims Ambassador Wells is raising against CPEC since a year?

Answer is awaited.