2017年CRI China-Pakistan Economic Corridor improves local infrastructure, people's life

 

Local residents in Pakistan are said to be witnessing significant changes in their live, 2-years after the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor program.

The project, a key element of the Chinese government's "Belt and Road" initiative, was officially launched in 2015 during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan.

The multi-billion US dollar plan includes building up infrastructure¹ along a route linking the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang to the southwestern Pakistani port Gwadar.

Muhammad Nisar Khan, general manager of a section of the CPEC project, says the building boom underway along the route has created a lot of opportunities.

"The locals are being skilled with construction of these mega projects, with respect to construction of bridges, tunnels, and other protection establishments involved in these projects, so we are seeing a lot of things being transferred from the Chinese, which goes in the benefits of this nation," said Muhammad.

50-year old Bashir Ahmed is a security guard at the port of Gwadar.

He suggested construction at the port to accommodate the CPEC program has also created opportunities for his 5 children.

"My Chinese friends work very hard. They helped us build a good primary school. Our children all study there. They also helped us build homes to improve our living conditions. Now many engineering projects are under construction. The Chinese Overseas Port Company works very fast. And every project, including the construction of the free zone is making fast progress. Hope other problems can be solved rapidly here," Bashir said.

Construction at the Port of Gwadar includes expanding it to accommodate a free-trade zone, which is expected to be operational in 2030.

Apart from the work being done at Gwadar, Chinese firms are working on expanding and refurbishing the 13-hundred kilometer long Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world, which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram Mountains.

The highway project is being led by the China Road and Bridge Corporation.

The project has not only improved local traffic conditions but also created around 25-hundred jobs for locals along the route.

"I'm working here and getting very good experience. I have learned a lot since I came here. Now I can operate the main machines, learn cutting and welding. And also I can operate crane," said a worker at the construction site.

"The construction of the highway makes us not afraid to go out anymore. In the past, when we traveled to other cities, we always faced traffic problems. We worried about landslide² that would cause deaths, traffic jam. Sometimes, it took us more than one week to reach the destination. When the road is completed, we will be able to reach there in only several hours," said another.

The Economic Corridor project is also said to be helping³ increase security in the region, as the Pakistani military has deployed⁴ numerous resources along the route to protect the workers and infrastructure they're building.

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。