16 CPEC projects in Balochistan, 8 in KPK: Chinese Embassy

[That Guy]

there is a reason 24 million people live in Karachi and 185,000 live in Gwadar

Sure, but city centers inevitably attract people. Pakistan, much like India, is experiencing a major migration of people towards urban areas, as more and more youth give up on farm life, to live and work in cities.

Other than the stated official reasons, Gwadar is also meant as a way of giving Baluchi youth and families a close urban center to move to, and give Baluchistan a major financial cash cow.

When Islamabad was created, there was hardly anyone there, now it is the capital of Pakistan, and home to over a million people.

 

[wiseone2]

Sure, but city centers inevitably attract people. Pakistan, much like India, is experiencing a major migration of people towards urban areas, as more and more youth give up on farm life, to live and work in cities.

Other than the stated official reasons, Gwadar is also meant as a way of giving Baluchi youth and families a close urban center to move to, and give Baluchistan a major financial cash cow.

When Islamabad was created, there was hardly anyone there, now it is the capital of Pakistan, and home to over a million people.

I can understand capital cities - New Delhi, Chandigarh
But you do not kick start a economic center in the middle of a desert. there is no water in Baluchistan.

 

[That Guy]

I can understand capital cities - New Delhi, Chandigarh
But you do not kick start a economic center in the middle of a desert. there is no water in Baluchistan.

Gwadar is literally a port city. Desalination plants can be built, and I believe such plants are being planned for the city.

This isn't the 11th century, modern cities don't need to be near fresh water, they can have fresh water brought to them.

Pakistan has been building desalination plants for a long time, in order to wean off addiction to the Indus. With India making the IWT an issue, Pakistan's attentions have once again been brought back to the issue of water, so I guess Pakistanis can thank Modi for at least that much. I have no doubt that Pakistan is already planning on building a lot of large desalination plants, and water reservoirs, in order to make Pakistan more energy secure.

In fact, doing a basic google search, it turns out that a desalination plant was built last year, providing 2 million gallons of water to Gwadar and Jeewani.

 

[Kabira]

I can understand capital cities - New Delhi, Chandigarh
But you do not kick start a economic center in the middle of a desert. there is no water in Baluchistan.

You missed this project

"Gwader Fresh Water Supply"

 

[That Guy]

@Thəorətic Muslim

I've found that a lot of the problems that Pakistan faces, have to do with water. Think about it, even Kashmir, in the heart of it, has water as one of the biggest issues.

I feel as if Pakistan becoming water secure would lead to a lot of issues just disappearing. From the droughts in Thar and Baluchistan, to the threat of India blocking the water of the Indus.

 

[wiseone2]

Gwadar is literally a port city. Desalination plants can be built, and I believe such plants are being planned for the city.

This isn't the 11th century, modern cities don't need to be near fresh water, they can have fresh water brought to them.

Pakistan has been building desalination plants for a long time, in order to wean off addiction to the Indus. With India making the IWT an issue, Pakistan's attentions have once again been brought back to the issue of water, so I guess Pakistanis can thank Modi for at least that much. I have no doubt that Pakistan is already planning on building a lot of large desalination plants, and water reservoirs, in order to make Pakistan more energy secure.

In fact, doing a basic google search, it turns out that a desalination plant was built last year, providing 2 million gallons of water to Gwadar and Jeewani.

you find desalination to be economical ... unless something changed in 10 years I do not know what you are taking about. it is not like pakistan is an energy rich country

desalination might be economic for household use in wealthy area. for industrial use i doubt it

India cannot take Indus waters. We can dam them for hydroelectric power generation. But the water has to eventually flow into Pakistan. Jhelum and Chenab are a slightly different story.

You missed this project

"Gwader Fresh Water Supply"

i saw that ... without a description of the project i cannot really comment

 

[GeraltofRivia]

In my humble view, it is understandable that the locals at Balochistan worried that they are underweighted in the CPEC plan except for gwadar. I would be concerned if I live there.

however, as pointed out by many members, CEPC is not an one off project but a long term economic development program, which will run for years possibly decades with more projects and new development coming out of pipeline and economic benefit will reach every region and every citizen.

 

[Kabira]

i saw that ... without a description of the project i cannot really comment

Desalination plant to purify sea water is under construction, should be up and running by next year.

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

I've found that a lot of the problems that Pakistan faces, have to do with water. Think about it, even Kashmir, in the heart of it, has water as one of the biggest issues.
I feel as if Pakistan becoming water secure would lead to a lot of issues just disappearing. From the droughts in Thar and Baluchistan, to the threat of India blocking the water of the Indus.

Short answer yes.

In all honesty, I agree while the "Ummah" has been added to create fervor and constant diversion of domestic issues, the skyrocketing population and while Pakistan has benefited from the Green Revolution there hasn't been a concerted push for water management, or even keeping up with a minimum advance in technology. A Simply buried hose with pinholes in it underneath or besides agriculture seeds can reduce the necessity of irrigation water by 80-95%.

But if you looking for support in creating desalination plants?

I'm not so sure. Desalination plants serve 1 purposes: supplying a supplemental water source to a concentrated area.

Desalination plants are not cheap, and If Pakistan continues to look towards gas/ furnace oil power plants not only the costs of electricity but water will be dependent on a highly volatile commodity. Electricity usage is the single highest costs of a desalination plant, depending on type of process used, it can run up to 70%.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/533446/desalination-out-of-desperation/ <--MIT Review, 2014.

Water from a river or aquifer may cost 10-30 cents, while desalinized water comes out to even 20x.

Countries like Gulf Arab States, Australia, China can afford desalination. But it's because they have surplus energy. The Gulf States back in (2012?) had 60% of all desalination capacity, if memory serves correct. While countries like France & Israel, is able to supply 40% of it's water supply, 3.2million people confined along the coaster Tel Aviv metropolitan area, are blessed with a highly centralized population centers.

Pakistan's intermittent electricity supply has the potential to ruin the entire supply of desalinized water with a blackout. And it's population in Punjab and KPK will need extensive pipelines and additional tax on the electricity supply.

Desalination should only be seen as a stop gap, a temporary attempt to fix the greater problem of water mismanagement & waste treatment. In other circumstances humans have to accept that some places are not suitable for settlements. Thar is a ridiculous place to set up, I honestly feel there was discrimination on the behalf of Pakistan in providing land to "cultivate".

If you want greater detail:
http://www.ilf.com/fileadmin/user_u...vance_water_treatment_economics_financing.pdf <--- Most comprehensive paper
https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/ar...-desalination-isnt-the-solution-to-water-woes
http://pacinst.org/ <---Renown Think Tank focusing on water resources
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-dont-we-get-our-drinking-water-from-the-ocean/
http://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/desal/faq.asp <--- FAQ on Desalination Project in Texas
http://electrical-engineering-porta...bution-architecture-in-water-treatment-plants <-- Power Distribution architecture
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/533446/desalination-out-of-desperation/ <--MIT Tech Review

 

[mdcp]

Others provinces have sui gas coz they are developed? Baloch areas will get it after the development? We are still striving for our fundamental needs, we get electricity from Iran, gas from Iran, edible goods from Iran, petrol from Iran. We even dont have a proper internet service in our cities. Baloch grievances are real and should be address as soon as possible. We dont need just schools but schools with quality education.

Who is responsible for all this, none other than your sardars and corrupt leaders and officials. Decades of mess up in all Pakistan cant be cleared in just few years, hopefully we in right track now and day by day things will improve. We lack resources, just won many proxy wars, investors confidence is growing, power shortages should be over in a year or so, infrastructure is improving so once all these operational and funds generated will boost all areas

 

[wiseone2]

Short answer yes.

In all honesty, I agree while the "Ummah" has been added to create fervor and constant diversion of domestic issues, the skyrocketing population and while Pakistan has benefited from the Green Revolution there hasn't been a concerted push for water management, or even keeping up with a minimum advance in technology. A Simply buried hose with pinholes in it underneath or besides agriculture seeds can reduce the necessity of irrigation water by 80-95%.

But if you looking for support in creating desalination plants?

I'm not so sure. Desalination plants serve 1 purposes: supplying a supplemental water source to a concentrated area.

Desalination plants are not cheap, and If Pakistan continues to look towards gas/ furnace oil power plants not only the costs of electricity but water will be dependent on a highly volatile commodity. Electricity usage is the single highest costs of a desalination plant, depending on type of process used, it can run up to 70%.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/533446/desalination-out-of-desperation/ <--MIT Review, 2014.

Water from a river or aquifer may cost 10-30 cents, while desalinized water comes out to even 20x.

Countries like Gulf Arab States, Australia, China can afford desalination. But it's because they have surplus energy. The Gulf States back in (2012?) had 60% of all desalination capacity, if memory serves correct. While countries like France & Israel, is able to supply 40% of it's water supply, 3.2million people confined along the coaster Tel Aviv metropolitan area, are blessed with a highly centralized population centers.

Pakistan's intermittent electricity supply has the potential to ruin the entire supply of desalinized water with a blackout. And it's population in Punjab and KPK will need extensive pipelines and additional tax on the electricity supply.

Desalination should only be seen as a stop gap, a temporary attempt to fix the greater problem of water mismanagement & waste treatment. In other circumstances humans have to accept that some places are not suitable for settlements. Thar is a ridiculous place to set up, I honestly feel there was discrimination on the behalf of Pakistan in providing land to "cultivate".

If you want greater detail:
http://www.ilf.com/fileadmin/user_u...vance_water_treatment_economics_financing.pdf <--- Most comprehensive paper
https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/ar...-desalination-isnt-the-solution-to-water-woes
http://pacinst.org/ <---Renown Think Tank focusing on water resources
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-dont-we-get-our-drinking-water-from-the-ocean/
http://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/desal/faq.asp <--- FAQ on Desalination Project in Texas
http://electrical-engineering-porta...bution-architecture-in-water-treatment-plants <-- Power Distribution architecture
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/533446/desalination-out-of-desperation/ <--MIT Tech Review

let us wait for a few years and see how this CPEC plays out

 

[Kabira]

let us wait for a few years and see how this CPEC plays out

By that time Phase-1 of CPEC will be completed. After that it will depend on security situation of Pakistan. If Baloch militants can be successful in taking out some Chinese workers then it will become difficult to convince investors.

 

[wiseone2]

By that time Phase-1 of CPEC will be completed. After that it will depend on security situation of Pakistan. If Baloch militants can be successful in taking out some Chinese workers then it will become difficult to convince investors.

what are exactly investors investing in ?

 

[That Guy]

you find desalination to be economical ... unless something changed in 10 years I do not know what you are taking about. it is not like pakistan is an energy rich country

desalination might be economic for household use in wealthy area. for industrial use i doubt it

India cannot take Indus waters. We can dam them for hydroelectric power generation. But the water has to eventually flow into Pakistan. Jhelum and Chenab are a slightly different story.


i saw that ... without a description of the project i cannot really comment

That is exactly the reason why Pakistan is building desalination plants. Pakistan is trying to achieve water security and independence.

As for India, it doesn't matter. The threat itself I'd enough to shoe that Pakistan is vulnerable when it comes to water.

 

[wiseone2]

Desalination plant to purify sea water is under construction, should be up and running by next year.

there are a lot of ways to get fresh drinking water