Ten years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed building the Silk Road Economic Belt while addressing the Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan on September 7, 2013. In the following decade, this proposal was translated into action. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) took shape and expanded across the world, injecting new life into a millennia old trade passage. So far, China has signed 200-plus agreements with more than 150 countries and some 30 international organizations for cooperation under the BRI. Data from China’s Ministry of Commerce show that the value of trade in goods between China and other BRI participating countries doubled from US $1.04 trillion in 2013 to US $2.07 trillion in 2022. Two-way investment between China and other BRI participating countries exceeded US $270 billion that means that BRI truly benefits all parties.

As the BRI is making its path for the development of global community with shared future, China Global Television Network (CGTN) has taken a great professional step to explore the welfare projects built under BRI framework. Under the theme of “Rising with Pride” CGTN launched a documentary series that have splendidly explored the bundle of welfare projects developed under BRI international cooperation. This is a kind of documentary series that unfolds the story of humanitarian side of BRI that has gained the reputation of an initiative that has been changing the lives of millions of people in partner countries of China under this historical initiative. Pakistan under the framework of BRI has been considered a very lucky country that has gained flagship project of BRI known as China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The CPEC, as a pilot project of the BRI, has brought a total of 25.4 billion US dollars in direct investment, 155,000 direct job opportunities, 510 kilometers of expressways, 8,000 megawatts of electricity and 886 kilometers of core transmission grids to Pakistan, injecting strong momentum into Pakistan’s economic and social development, becoming a vivid symbol of China-Pakistan all-weather friendship. Pakistan successfully with the meaningful consultation of China completed various projects across the country. The significant projects got recognition were power projects as it helped the country to tackle the worst energy crisis of it’s history. 720 MW Karot hydro power project under the framework of CPEC was not less than any blessing for the citizens as on one side it was a booster for producing the much needed energy for the country while on other side, Chinese company, the developer of Hydro power project built the much needed emergency unit in Tehsil Headquarter hospital in the local area.

CGTN tells the story of this emergency unit built under the framework of CPEC by a Chinese company as corporate social responsibility project that has provided the indispensible medical facilities to the locals that were never available before. Through the CGTN documentary, the story of a local patient Noman Ahmed was unfolded who was diagnosed with Jaundice, Typhoid, and Malaria. The documentary narrates that Noman Ahmed is a young shop keeper by profession who is also married and living a happy life with his Mother & Father in Kahuta. His days are dedicated to serving people at his shop, providing them with excellent services. The documentary shows that Noman runs a shop of tailoring where he is very popular and gets the attention of many workers following his good work. Noman was living a very happy life when he once diagnosed with dangerous diseases. He and his family were very worry about the medical treatment as they rushed to many doctors for the treatment.

Luckily, they got to know that Chinese company under the framework of CPEC has built the emergency unit in the local hospital where they can get the best medical facility and there will be no need for them to move to the good hospitals in other cities. Through the documentary it is shown that under the community investment plan (CIP) of the project, a 20-bed emergency block has been constructed by Karot Power Co. Ltd. (KPCL) at a cost of Rs20 million in Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in the area of Kahuta. The documentary highlights the how the emergency unit have helped Noman Ahmed and his family to avoid any serious medical problems and they got best medical treatment of the diseases under dedicated doctors. The beautiful part of the documentary of that it highlighted the close bond between Noman and his wife. The wife of Noman helped him a lot in the recovery phase by attending him many times in hospital and by also taking the responsibility of his shop.

The documentary is worth watching that will tell you that how the welfare projects under built in partner countries of China has changed the lives of very needy people and this emergency unit is one of the best example to be quoted and highlighted. CGTN documentary also features the daily lives of local people and culture of the area that puts a very strong impression of area on the viewers. CGTN deserves a lot of appreciation on launching this series that is exploring the real pride of BRI and the people who are gaining welfare projects under this initiative.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China