Dr. Mirza Ikhtiyar Baig (Economist): The present PDM regime, the Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Part (PPP), leadership strongly believe that we have to go a long way with China in CPEC and other projects. And that is why, we are very determined to accommodate all those investments propositions given by the Chinese Ambassador. There are a large number of people visiting Pakistan with the intention to do investment in the country.

The Gwadar airport is about to become operational which will be a new era for trade between Pakistan and China. The Gwadar Port is a hallmark of all these operations. Due to Gwadar Port, the transit time from this port to Port Qasim became one third and the cost became 20 percent. The Chinese are also working on establishing special economic zones. The government has announced to create 9 economic zones under CPEC. And now we are working on relocation of industries from China to Pakistan. Due to this, not only the transfer of technology will take place but what ever goods are produced will be exported with the Chinese network globally. Now the fruits of this project are very near and world has seen that the 2nd and 3rd phase of CPEC is eye opener for all those who were thinking that the CPEC will die out. But the CPEC is operational and generating more and more interest among the Chinese and Pakistani business community. Pakistan government is facilitating them and has formed Special Investment Facilitation Council to protect the investment of the investors.

Pakistan and China have offered the entire world to be part of the CPEC and be a stakeholder. Offers are made to Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Central Asian countries and they have shown interest. The CPEC is not limited to Pakistan and China alone but it is open to all regional countries who believe that they can benefit from it.

Dr. Manzoor Khan Afridi(Expert on CPEC): Keeping in view the false narratives being created about the CPEC, we should first know that Pakistan-China relations are very strong from the day first and both countries also have very strong defense relations. Now due to CPEC, the economic relations of both countries have reached new heights. The CPEC is a very big project in which there are many projects like Special Economic Zones, Industrial Parks, infrastructure development, roads and rails upgradation, fiber optics network, Gwadar port and hospital in Gwadar city and then there are power projects based on solar energy, wind energy, coal power projects and hydro power projects and there are some technology and agriculture based projects. These projects are vital for the economy of both countries, especially Pakistan. Of course there are some elements who do not want to see China and Pakistan, as well as the whole region, happy. For example, India has already established a wing through RAW and it is well funded and its aim is to see how to sabotage CPEC. From time to time, we also see that western media outlets also give statements suggesting that the CPEC is useless or China has its own interests in it. There are many factors involved in these propagandas. There could be internal factors and elements who may want to further their own businesses.  All this propaganda aims to give a bad name to CPEC.

But with the passage of time, people will come to know about the benefits of CPEC projects. Phase 1 of the project has already been completed while its 2nd phase is near to completion and the third phase will start in coming days. This will make masses aware of the situation and then they will reject all the negative propaganda regarding CPEC. The governments and people of both Pakistan and China are fully confident and committed to CPEC and willing to extend the project beyond 2030. We need to create a counter narrative in response to the propaganda against the CPEC so people become aware of ground realities of this mega project.