November 18, 2021 GWADAR, Nov. 15 (China Economic Net) – “According to our plan, Gwadar would become the logistic hub in this region within 5 years!” noted Zhang Baozhong, Chairman of China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC) while reviewing the 5-year-journey of Gwadar. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) reached an important milestone on November 13, 2016 by the starting of the first shipment of trade cargo from Gwadar Port to international destinations. Five years on, the progress achieved in Gwadar is a prelude to a rosy future. And the story of Gwadar needs to be heard. Mission Impossible? Stepping on Gwadar for the first time, “I thought I was on the Mars,” Zhang told China Economic Net. It was 2016, not many activities, not many people, not much traffic could be seen in the dusty Gwadar. “The whole city was like a dying town without any environment for doing business.” “I was under such pressure that I thought it’s mission impossible [to develop Gwadar],” Zhang said. By that time there were no signals or internet. For 2 weeks he completely lost connection with his family and head office. “From the very top level to the ground level, all the people from Pakistan are very helpful and kind to us,” said Zhang Baozhong. [Photo/China Economic Net] Life was tough, so was the task. How was it possible to realize the target of the government? “I wrote a lot of reports to Chinese government, to my head office and I discussed with my local Pakistani brothers. And we were very lucky that both governments helped a lot.” “From the very top level to the ground level, all the people from Pakistan are very helpful and kind to us. And they are ready to assist us to overcome all the difficulties we are faced. We are really grateful to the Pakistani government for giving us 923 hectares of land (10 square kilometers) dedicated to the development of Free Zone as well as the incentives to investors,” he said. And with a view to attracting investors, Pakistani government...

CRSS in collaboration with Turbat Press Club arranged a seminar themed 'Role of Journalists in Socio-Political Development' on November 16, 2021 at Turbat Press Club. The event was attended by the representatives from different socio-political organizations and the traders' union of Kech. The president of Turbat Press club apprised the audience about the significance of journalists as agents of social development. The journalists in Balochistan face huge challenges but continue to serve even in the toughest of socio-political situations. The local political parties and leadership should collaborate with Turbat Press Club to facilitate the journalists. The seminar proved to be a stepping stone for the empowerment and uplift of the journalist community in Turbat, Balochistan. https://youtu.be/EuElqb76fn4  

Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director CRSS, launched his book titled “What Lies Behind the Iron Brotherhood?” on September 29, 2021. The book explores the 70+ years of friendship between China and Pakistan, and illustrates his hands-on insight on the relationship between the two countries, eliminating the rampant misconceptions about the nature of Pak-China relationship. Notable dignitaries including the current Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Nong Rong, Senator Mushahid Hussain, and the former Ambassador of Pakistan to China Ms. Naghmana Hashmi graced the event with their presence. China is fortunate to have Pakistan as a strategic partner and puts Pakistan on priority for cooperation in all sectors. The Chinese government is overjoyed to see Pakistan’s accomplishments in nation-building and looks forward to work hand in hand with Pakistan, remarked His Excellency Nong Rong while addressing the event virtually. While commending the author, he stated that the book comprehensively views the age long Pakistan-China relationship from a broader perspective and serves as a guide to understand the nature of this bilateral relationship. Senator Mushahid Hussain, in his keynote address during the event lauded China’s overall progress as a nation. Highlighting the core ingredients of Chinese success; excellent leadership, the ability to do course correction, learn from other’s mistakes, and a peaceful foreign policy, he suggested Pakistan to learn from the iron brother and adopt a similar development model. While congratulating Mr. Gul on writing a book which serves as a milestone in strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries, he said that Pakistan and China share an important strategic and substantive relationship which is not interest driven, it is an all-weather friendship. Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi, former Ambassador of Pakistan to China, admired Mr. Gul’s effort in penning down this bond to which words cannot fully do justice. She stated that it...

The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) organized a two-day workshop in the University of Turbat and Gwadar campus on October 11 and 12, 2021 respectively. Thirty students, senior faculty members of the university, and representatives from local media were among the participants. The main purpose of this workshop was to enhance the ability of the students to understand the importance of media ethics, critical thinking, and fake news. Gohram Baloch, a freelance journalist from Balochistan, representing CRSS started the proceedings by presenting a welcome note and introduced the guests to the participants. Senior journalists and media experts; Tahir Javed Rathore, Shehzada Zulfiqar, and Mansoor Ahmed were amongst the trainers for this workshop. The inaugural address of the workshop was delivered by Dr. Abdul Saboor Baloch, Dean of Faculty of Languages and Humanities, and Jamil Baloch, Chairman, Departbment of Politics. The workshop comprised of two sessions, Critical Thinking and Fake News. Addressing the workshop in University of Turbat, both Tahir Javed and Shehzada Zulfiqar shared their experiences and stressed on examining things critically and emphasized on knowing the significance of understanding their responsibilities as a responsible citizen. The current cycle of breaking news and ratings along with negative news is spreading rapidly and attempts are being made to mislead the public, Rathore stated while talking about fake news. He further added that being responsible journalists, it is our duty to highlight misleading content and discourage the idea of spreading irrelevant information. Tahir, further added that the vision of CRSS is to promote the youth by providing them with a platform where they can analyze things from their own perspective, and on the basis of their analysis their work can get recognition from the top-level. All the stakeholders should be taken into consideration before enacting legislation to curb fake news legally. In the...

University students representing every corner of Pakistan displayed incredible courage in taking the stage, some for the first time, in the second Annual Declamation Challenge, organized by The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad. The students hailed from public sector universities in erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the rest of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Islamabad Capital Territory. The three day event was organized and hosted by CRSS to foster the spirit of competition in Pakistan’s youth. The event is the culmination of a six year effort by the Center to promote critical thinking and challenge preconceived notions and narratives. For this purpose, CRSS partnered with nearly 100 public sector universities across Pakistan, offering free training programs to thousands of teachers, students, and university administration. The declamation competition was held between 48 participants from every corner of Pakistan. After one round of speeches on carefully curated topics that would spark healthy debate and discourse, 12 of the initial 48 were selected for a final round. On the last day of the competition, these 12 gave new speeches, and a new batch of judges gauged their performance. In the end, the third place was jointly secured by Tayeba Nawaz, University of Hazara, Mansehra and Nayab Batool, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta. The second place was achieved by Adila Batool, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta. Finally, the winner of the final round was Taimoor Riaz, hailing from the University of Haripur. The finalists were awarded prizes and trophies, and all participants were given certificates for being a part of the competition. Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director CRSS said 5that he hoped the activity helped catalyze curiosity and critical thinking in the youth, and that they apply the lessons learned in their daily...

Just two days ago, the Afghan Taliban regained control of Afghanistan after 20 years. The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country with some of his acquaintances. The Taliban took over the presidential palace without any bloodshed or unrest and have gained strong control of the whole country. Pakistan is Afghanistan’s closest neighbor and business partner, not only facilitating transit trade activities via Afghanistan, but also valuing ​​bilateral trade with Afghanistan. Keeping in mind the significance of this border movement and trade, CRSS team visited the most famous, busy, and important border crossing area between Afghanistan and Pakistan i.e., Torkham, on August 18,2021   and engaged in a meaningful conversation with the representatives of the Khyber Chamber of Commerce, Transport Association, Customs Clearing Agents, association drivers, market union officials and senior journalists. Below is the summary of these conversations and questions and answers. Customs Clearing Agents and Transport Association officials agreed that although a formal Taliban government has not yet been established in Afghanistan, despite them having taken control of the border areas, including the presidential palace. But the Taliban's desire to keep the trade going and keeping the country afloat can be gauged from the fact that within few hours of the former Afghan government's border staff fleeing, and Taliban representatives taking over the border crossing points, the movement and transport of trade goods across the border was restored. Taliban’s efforts to boost the trade process and to remove the stringent bureaucratic border hindrances can be observed from the fact that, before Taliban’s control, the border staff allowed less than a hundred food and vegetable trucks towards Pakistan and less than two hundred in Afghanistan. However, as soon as the Taliban took control of the border security, they allowed 270 stranded Afghan trade vehicles into Pakistan. Moreover,...