The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project has received praise and criticism in the past. Several individuals disapproved the project and saw it as a threat, yet CPEC was a determined project which was said to be completed no matter what happens.
However, an earthquake warning for Gwadar has shown a red flag to the project. Geologists are concerned that a possible quake can hit the project site which may result in a catastrophic site.
According to a report, 40 geologists both from both China and Pakistan will conduct a survey on the Makran Trench in Balochistan. This is alarming as Gwadar is the main hub of the project which links to China’s Xinjiang province via Kashmir.
Seismologist Yang Hongfeng from the Chinese University of Hong Kong commented on conducting the survey saying, “A lot of important scientific questions remain unanswered. The results will definitely advance our understanding [while] providing critical data to reduce the risk in the region.”
Previously, a massive quake had struck in 1945, and Gwadar port’s plate is close to Makran Trench’s plate!
Michael Kugelman Senior Associate for South Asia at the US-based think tank Wilson Centre said, “There’s a whole lot at stake. The port, if fully developed and operationalized, can be a critical asset for Pakistan, and there’s no nation that Pakistan would be more comfortable entrusting it to than its close friend China.”
He added, “Still, given issues of proximity and general vulnerability Pakistan doesn’t cope or respond well to natural disasters, given a lack of resources and incapacity there’s certainly reason to believe that intense earthquake activity would pose a clear and present danger to Gwadar.”
The slightest threat from a quake or Tsunami can be deadly, however, the positive side is that this threat was detected pre-hand of the situation. Officials and experts from both countries can get together and work out a solution.
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