Experts call for human-centric CPEC Phase-II in Balochistan

Experts call for human-centric CPEC Phase-II in Balochistan as they hold discussions during a high-level policy seminar.

Leading diplomats, experts, and policymakers on Monday jointly called for a shift toward human-centered and integrated development in Balochistan under Phase-II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), stressing its potential to become a vital hub for sustainable growth. The discussion took place at a high-level policy seminar titled “Balochistan’s Gateway to Sustainable Development: Market Opportunities and Investment Pathways under CPEC,” hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) as part of its Monday Seminar Series, and moderated by Engineer Ubaid-Ur-Rehman Zia, Head of SDPI’s Energy Unit.

Dr. Hassan Daud Butt, Senior Advisor at Energy China and former CPEC Project Director, opened the seminar by highlighting Gwadar’s strategic importance as Pakistan’s link to Eurasia. Emphasizing Balochistan’s significant share of national landmass and livestock resources, as well as its vast wind energy potential, he noted that its population is expected to rise to 24 million by 2050—making sustainable development a pressing need.

Dr. Butt also revealed growing foreign investor interest in the province’s infrastructure, particularly from China and Kazakhstan, the latter offering a $500 million investment in railway development. While long-term projects like ML-1 and an oil city in Gwadar are in motion, he called for immediate coastal development to harness Gwadar’s potential as a petrochemical and industrial hub.

Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of the Institute of Regional Studies, stressed that Balochistan’s rich reserves of critical minerals make it central to global supply chains. He projected that with proper development, Pakistan could become a $40 billion transit economy by 2035, and noted Balochistan’s strength in high-value agriculture and livestock.

However, he criticized poor governance, widespread corruption, and inadequate services in the province. Ambassador Saleem emphasized that unless vocational training, technology transfer, and community engagement are prioritized, the promises of CPEC will fall short for Balochistan.

SDPI’s Head of Policy, Ahad Nazir, warned that without institutional reforms, CPEC’s infrastructure gains will not lead to meaningful development. He described Balochistan as “mineral-rich but human-poor,” citing policy inconsistency, weak coordination, and political interference as major obstacles. He recommended five key reforms, including setting up an Investment Facilitation Unit and agro-business clusters.

Nazir also highlighted successful global models like Chile’s reinvestment of mining royalties into local regions, which Balochistan could adopt. At the same time, he pointed out that investor interest is fragile, threatened by public mistrust, water shortages, and security concerns.

Dr. Faiz Kakar, former provincial minister for Health and Environment, criticized the fact that none of the CPEC motorways pass through Balochistan. While Gwadar now has a new international airport, progress on Special Economic Zones remains stalled by bureaucratic hurdles. He stated that Chinese companies are ready to invest $2 billion but insist on a streamlined one-window operational framework. Dr. Kakar called for comprehensive urban and climate-resilient planning.

Adding a cultural dimension, anthropologist Dr. Quratulain Bakhteari, Founder of the Institute for Development Studies and Practice (IDSP), cautioned against reducing Balochistan’s development to just minerals and trade. She stressed that genuine progress must emerge from the community level, reminding participants that “people, not profits, unite nations.”

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Saleem lauded the seminar for its timely and unconventional perspectives. He reiterated that successful development in Balochistan under CPEC will require cultural sensitivity, consistent policy, and active community involvement.

He concluded by emphasizing that CPEC’s success in Balochistan must go beyond roads and ports, calling for focused investments in human capital, environmental sustainability, and strong institutions.