BY : Naz Parveen
Amongst the living societies across the globe, culture contributes tremendously. Whether it is social, economic, educational, sports oriented contacts at people level or their relationships in the other sectors, each and every aspect of life is always over shadowed by the feelings which originates from the respective cultural heritages. In nutshell, the feelings which the respective people derive from the practices of their past; experiences at the present and thoughts they rear in their minds towards future, everything contributes to developing mutual understandings.
Here is an institution in the historic city of Peshawar which has taken over the responsibility to further cement the bonds of Pak China Friendship by promoting better understandings at the people to people level. Ever-since the China Window emerged – almost a year back- its working, role and services are the talk of the dayin the city in particular. The fact can be judged from figures of the visitors. 18,000 dignitaries and prominent figures from cross section of the society including students have been welcomed at the China Window over a time span of 15 months. This also reflects the level of commitment and attachment which the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bear towards their Chinese brethren and sisters. Creation of this institution has become possible at the hand of a Peshawar based senior journalist, Amjad Aziz Malik which he has made possible under the direct patronage of Chinese Embassy in Islamabad. The facilities it offers are truly judged the state of the art ones from all aspects.
Very recently, a memorable event was held at the China Window to celebrate the 71st National Day of People’s Republic of China wherein the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, Mr. Mahmood Khan was the chief guest. Mr. Arshad Khan, Secretary Information of the provincial government and Mr. Moazzam Jah Ansari, Commandant of Frontier Constabulary – one of the important security agencies of the province – were also in attendance at the ceremony. The Chief Minister on arrival at the China Window was accorded a warm welcome who later on also planted a sapling at the premises as a token of his presence on the historic occasion. A fantastically installed replica of the historic China Wall at the China Window makes its features more attractive for the visitors and the Chief Minister also got him snapped along it. The visit to various galleries of the institution was of special interest for the distinguished guest during which Amjad Aziz Malik highlighted different aspects of developments taking place in various fields of life in People’s Republic of China. Mr. Mahmood Khan also inked his feelings in the visitor’s book. While putting his remarks on the Friendship Wall, the Chief Minister added the words in his own writings – Pak China Friendship Zindabad. Cutting of the Friendship Cake was the special feature of the ceremony and Mr. Mahmood Khan personally cut it while sharing the joyful moments of the Chinese friends.
The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan extended his heartfelt felicitations to the government and people of China on while addressing colourful ceremony held on the occasion. The everlasting friendship, he said, has set an inspirationfor the rest of the world. “China always stands by Pakistan in every difficult time and Pakistan also didn’t disappoint its time tested friend”, he said.
He welcomed the establishment of China Window at Peshawar. “It undoubtedly is a great initiative”, he said. Although the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the most recent addition in the long list of various projects emerged in Pakistan as a result of its friendship with Pakistan, yet it was noted the talk of the day both amongst the speakers and the audience. The Chief Minister who has very recently got the launch of Rashakai Economic Zone in credit of their government was also found very impressive of its outcomes in a short span of time. “CPEC carriesspecial importance and also is a good example of our friendship with Government and people of the People’s Republic of China which would not only impact the state of their mutual relations in a positive way but the overall socio-economic development of the regionwill be further improved as well”, he remarked. It is not just the development of a route rather a number of mega projects are also under implementation as part of CPEC. While presenting further details, he said, right from agriculture, tourism, industries and energy to social welfare related fieldsare also part of the multipurpose portfolio of CPEC. When he stated that the provincial government was moving forward under a workableplan in order to derive true benefits of CPEC, he indeed was highlighting the policy hall mark of his government. Truly the excellent strategic location of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with tremendous natural resources available therein have been in the mind of the Chief Minister of the province when he expressed the hope that the province would emerge as an exemplary hub of trade & economic activities within the next few years. In shape of Rashakai Economic Zone,a huge investment of $ 1.9 billion is expected in the province which will generate some two million direct and indirect employment opportunities. His earnest desire to witness investors – both Chinese and others – doing investments in the province was quite obvious from his tone and tenor on the occasion, and he assured that the provincial government would extend all out support to this effect. While highlighting the ongoing efforts on this count, he said, it is also their utmost effort to offer 3125 acres of land at Daraban in Dera Ismail Khan for CPEC oriented projects during the upcoming meeting of its Joint Working Committee. “This would be the largest economic zone of the kind in the province and on materialization it would help to boost the local economy to a tremendous extent”, he said.
Highlighting the ongoing projects in communication sector, Mr. Mahmood Khan said that Phase-I of the Swat Motorway Project has been completed whereas work on its Second phase would be started by January next year. Similarly, he added, construction of the expressway level road linkage from Dir to Chitralis also part of the communication development plan of the province while the work on Khyber Pass Economic Corridor would be started soon. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, he said, also bears significant potential of developing clean & green energy means besides hydro power generation and the provincial government is also fully concentrating to exploit all the available opportunities in the best in of the people, he said. The practice of observing the National Day of the People’s Republic of China in the historic city of Peshawar is proving a good sign to bringing its citizens closer to their Chinese friends. It was the second event of the kind in this provincial metropolitan city and its impact has been received warmly across the society.
