The world is full of expected and unexpected events, accidents and disasters. In many cases, this abnormal change leads to a disaster. The world is facing latest situations. Among them is the coronavirus, an outbreak that has shaken the world and is causing extraordinary effects on the economy.
China was the first country to suffer from such an outbreak of abnormal effects. China was overcome by its strategy, hard work and high enthusiasm, but meanwhile the experts of the global economy are analyzing that what kind of impact this global outbreak of the coronavirus will have on the Chinese economy and the impact it will have on the Chinese economy will inevitably have an impact on the global economy and the economy of Pakistan.
In economic terms also, Pakistan has been linked to China since 2015 in such a way that Pakistan will also have to face the extraordinary effects of the situation. Just have to see to what extent the China Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) suffers from these effects? What are the effects of this epidemic on CPEC? What are the implications and what may be the consequences? It is also important to pay attention to this as CPEC is of extraordinary importance not only for China but for Pakistan. China’s Belt and Road Initiative is linked to its plan. However, Pakistan’s poor economic condition also recognizes its status.
From 2015 till now, there has been a unanimous opinion in Pakistan that CPEC is very useful to Pakistan. Its routes were disputed in the eyes of some Pakistani circles, but its usefulness is proven by all Therefore, any adverse impact on such a proven project would be of great concern to both countries. So when the coronavirus outbreak began to spread in China, it was also linked with the operating of China Pakistan economic corridor in Pakistan.
Chinese citizens working in different places of CPEC traveled to China to celebrate their New Year’s celebrations. A significant number of them belong to Wuhan. Unfortunately, this epidemic in Wuhan actually took the form of worst picture, so it was appropriate for China to shut down everything in the province and restrict the mobilization of the citizens. An inevitable consequence of the restriction of the movement of citizens was that it was impossible for Chinese engineers, experts and management people who belonged to the lock-down areas to return to Pakistan on time when it was time for them to return.
When it became impossible to reach the company or factory that was running because of them, so it was difficult for those business centers and factories to do the routine work and it became very difficult and those enterprises started to suffer. This situation was seen by both China and Pakistan with great concern as 100,000 to 15,000 Chinese engineers, experts and management staff were concerned with the CPEC. It was necessary to fill this gap as soon as possible. In the beginning, the situation in China was so worrisome that it was not possible for China to ease sanctions. It was only the beginning time of the outbreak in Pakistan, but work had begun to prevent it.
Now it was important to run the CPEC, China and Pakistan decided that the Chinese engineers and management staff should start to be sent to Pakistan. But prevention of the epidemic should also be taken. The countries decided that the policy of double quarantine should be adopted. The people who were to send Pakistan first were kept in quarantine for 14 days in China. Then when they arrived in Pakistan, they were again housed in quarantine and they stayed in quarantine again for 14 days. A Chinese company acquired the four houses in F-6 sector in Islamabad for this purpose. The first group of Chinese engineers, experts and management staff of the company arrived in Pakistan and stayed again in the double quarantine. Later they went on to do their jobs, but despite all of this, it is being taken care of that these Chinese people should not have any connection with the locals to ensure that these Chinese people should be safe from the danger of the coronavirus.
The Chinese people arrival in Pakistan won the hearts of the Pakistanis as they saw that the Chinese were returning to their jobs faster and playing their part in advancing the CPEC projects. China and Pakistan succeeded in this strategy. Thanks to the double quarantine, everyone from China was protected from the coronavirus attack and recorded 100% protection.
In the meantime the Lockdown was announced in Pakistan to keep the citizens away from this deadly disease and to keep Pakistan safe from its devastation. It should be in mind that Pakistan’s health system does not have the capacity to cope with this kind of outbreak. When locked down, in such a case business centers, factories and other routines has to be closed or severely affected by life, so the CPEC can’t protected from the lock down . The effects will inevitably fall into the CPEC and it will take at least eight weeks delay for the various projects to be completed. An eight-week delay can be tolerated, but if this delay is exceeded, the disadvantages will be even greater.
It is important to know that the lock down has stopped the steel tube factory construction in Gwadar port. All business zones and business centers are completely closed in Gwadar port and the impact of all these issues is on CPEC and its affiliates. But it is hopeful news that Gwadar port is still working under strict policies. Un-necessary person can’t enter in the Gwadar port now days.
There can be no other opinion that China and Pakistan should begin preparing for a strategy to minimize the negative impact of the CPEC. The devastation of epidemic has been kept in mind, but as the world gets rid of this deadly epidemic, the two countries must also jointly study the damage done to the CPEC and reduce its severity. The effects can last for months if the effective policy is not adopted, the effects can extend beyond the months to years which is very regrettable. This should not be limited to academic study, How to implement the suggestions for how to solve these problems should be implemented. It is an important question. It would be appropriate to set up a committee consisting of government officials to implement the suggestions of the academic study in Pakistan. And it is very important that a committee consisting of the members of the government benches and the members of the opposition side should be constituted to oversee the performance of the government officers committee and the parliamentary committee should be supervisor for their work. To be monitored at all times. If not effectively dealt with by the impact of the outbreak, severe problems will be encountered.
