Pakistan as a transit trade and tourism hub
ARTICLE (February 01 2008): Pakistan is blessed with a unique position in the world geography, situated as it is on the cross roads of East and West, and as one of the choicest corridors connecting the land-locked Central Asian States to the open sea.
The sea and air connections to the outside world are well known, and need no repetition, even if the ground realities demand serious attention for improvement. However, the land borders with neighbours (China, Afghanistan, Iran, and India) deserve more consideration than has been the case so far.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CROSSING POINTS ON THE POROUS BORDERS, BUT THE MAIN OFFICIAL OUTPOSTS, WITH FORMAL PARAPHERNALIA, ARE:
1. North (Chinese Border): Khunjerab along the historical Silk Road
2. N. West (Afghanistan): Khyber (NWFP) and Chaman (Balochistan West (Iran): 3.West (Iran) Taftan and Gwadar (Balochistan)
4 East (India): Wagah (Punjab) and Khokhrapar (Sindh)
a) KHUNJERAB:
The road starting from Rawalpindi, and travelling through Hassan Abdal, Abbottabad, Mansehra, onto Besham, runs from that point on, parallel to the River Indus in its northern reaches, via Karakoram Ranges.
It passes through Chilas (skirting Nanga Parbat peak, 8126 metres above sea level) to reach Gilgit, where it changes course along Hunza River. Passing Baltit (Hunza), it travels on through Karakoram Range passes, via Misgar and Bara Khun, to reach Khunjerab Pass, which is the gateway to Sinkiang province of China.
The road is hazardous, built at a tremendous cost of lives with the help of Chinese engineers, and it becomes snow-bound and impossible to travel throughout the winter months. It remains closed for traffic for nearly six months of the year.
The road passes through one of the world's most scenic spots along lofty peaks which are among the world's ten highest (after Everest) and a great tourist attraction. The pristine natural beauty is simply breathtaking, but very few hardy and venturesome souls can reach there.
Developing the infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, telecom facilities, fuel supplies and other amenities along the route) supplemented by worldwide publicity will invite hordes of tourists and nature-lovers. That will give a great fillip to the local economy, besides bringing in valuable foreign exchange,
Widening the roads, and making them safe for vehicular traffic will give a great boost to trade, not only with China, but also with Tajikistan and other neighbours, who have contiguous borders with China. A concerted diplomatic drive, to attract customers, is needed to open-up immense possibilities of transit trade, in addition to tourism.
b) KHYBER:
A few miles out of Peshawar, on the road to Jalalabad (Afghanistan), lies the renowned Khyber Pass, a gateway from times immemorial for adventurers and invaders, tourists and traders of all hues and description. One significant feature of this route and territories alongside it, has been some turbulent and militant tribes inhabiting the area.
Peace in this area will also boost transit trade in the region, for cargoes destined to entire South and South East Asia and farther afield, in their transactions with the land-locked Central Asian States.
An important aspect of this development will be the facilitation of import of energy (oil, gas, and electric power) from the exporting countries of Central Asia to the power hungry sub-continent.
Tourism, of course, will be additional icing on the cake, as the route will open vistas as far west as Europe, to the farthest corners of Asia-Pacific region.
c) CHAMAN:
Straddling the southern border of Afghanistan, Chaman has been the transit point for cross-border trade in produce (fruits, - fresh and dry - woollens, rugs, handicrafts, and essential food items and consumables of all description) for centuries. The wars in Afghanistan have affected the area badly, and the influx of refugees and their concomitant smuggling operations - merchandise as well as the detestable arms and drugs - have compounded the problems for achieving a decent, peaceful atmosphere for normal trade. Some foreign elements are also engaged in queering the pitch, for their own interests, one of which is to create problems for Pakistan.
The unsettled state of affairs in the Balochistan province does nothing to ease this situation. The potential for prosperity for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, once peace returns to the province of Balochistan, is tremendous.
d) TAFTAN:
On the extreme western border of Balochistan in the north, astride the triangle where the borders of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran meet, and close to the copper belt of Saindak, lies Taftan. Besides the road from Quetta, it is also linked by rail that goes from Quetta to Zahidan (Iran) operated by Pakistan Railways. Unfortunately, the state of the railway coaches and its schedule of operations (frequency of services) leave much to be desired.
The train passes through desolated arid deserts and dry hills, where water, even for drinking, is scarce, and the wayside restaurants and bus stops are nothing to be proud of. Worse still is the customs outpost on Pakistan side of the border, where cleanliness is a word nobody ever heard of, to say nothing of the apathetic and often derogatory attitude of the officials towards the travellers and visitors to and from abroad.
Taftan is a vital gateway to Iran and beyond. Pilgrims and others travel to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey and onto Europe even, along this route, quite often. The contrast from the other side of the border, Mir Javeh (Iran), is so striking that one hangs his head in shame for being a Pakistani. It is high time some higher ups visit the place to set things right, as Taftan has the potential to become a focal point of mass transit - both for men and materials, from near and far.
d) GWADAR:
Besides being a free port in the making, Gwadar is also significant as a land route point to and from Chahbahar (Iran), a few miles away to its west.
Situated as it is on the coast of Sea of Oman, overlooking the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf, with the deep waters of Arabian Sea in the south, Gwadar is meant to be the gateway for much of Central Asia. In addition, its potential as a land border towards Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, etc) cannot be overlooked for trade and tourism, to say nothing of the pilgrimage traffic. Its development possibilities must be seriously looked into, as the future is great.
e) EASTERN BORDER POSTS
WAGAH AND KHOKHRAPAR:
One can only hope for an improvement in the situation, which will greatly benefit not only Pakistan and India, but also, all the Saarc countries, as well as the entire Middle East Region, Central Asian states and South-East Asia. Possibilities could extend to the Oceania and regions on the periphery of the Pacific, all the way to South America in the East.
On the Western side, even countries in Europe and North Africa could benefit from opening of these routes to human and goods traffic, affording huge opportunities to Pakistan for lucrative returns.
To sum up, a set of imperatives are needed to be put in place, in order to optimise the potential benefits of the land, as well as the sea and air routes for inland destinations.
THESE ARE:
i) Upgrading the roads and railways to an international standard, with proper maintenance.
ii) Proper facilities on the ground for handling the traffic, whether people or cargoes.
iii) Deployment of a courteous and correct officialdom, at all strategic points
iv) Inculcation of the habit and culture of cleanliness in our own people, in all its manifestations
v) Promotion of the possibilities and potentials of Pakistan as a destination as well as a transit route, to attract world attention.
vi) Training guides for tourists, and consular staff for promotion of trade and associated affairs.
vii) Educating public for being courteous and helpful to well-meaning foreigners, and last, but not the least:
viii) Restoration of peace and tranquillity to the land, to make all this possible.
Some foreign countries owe their economic prosperity exclusively or mainly to tourist trade. Examples: Greece, Spain and Thailand.
Why can't we in Pakistan emulate their example?
Secondly, with WTO looming large on the horizon, we cannot afford to be isolated. To ignore this fact will be at our own peril.
Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]
