They want to create a Greater Punjab for economic benefits.
Greater Punjab plan: Pakistan now wants to create a ‘Greater Punjab’ to establish business ties with India. The ‘Greater Punjab’ model has the support of the top officials of the Pakistan Army as well as leaders of Shahbaz Sharif’s government. Pakistan aims to create a business corridor modelled on the Kartarpur Corridor. Through this, Pakistan wants to strengthen business relations with India. Former Pakistani Army official Adil Raja has revealed this model and stated that Pakistan’s objective is to create a ‘soft border’ between the two countries.
Adil Raja has alleged that Shahbaz Sharif’s government is pro-India and is trying to facilitate free trade and cross-border movement. The aim is to promote economic ties between the two Punjabs. However, he stated that this model presents significant challenges for Pakistan. He mentioned that India’s economy is massive, and Pakistan’s economic condition is dire, which means that Pakistan will not be able to stand for even a moment against India and will suffer substantial losses.
What is Pakistan’s ‘Greater Punjab’ model?
Adil Raja claims that Pakistan’s ‘Greater Punjab’ model proposes soft borders and increased trade between Sindh (including Karachi), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along the Grand Trunk Road, and India, framed as an economic opportunity.
However, there is a vast disparity between both economies, and if Pakistan pursues this model, it will not be long before it becomes a ‘satellite state’ of India. India’s economy has now crossed 3 trillion-dollar mark, while Pakistan is struggling to sustain its economy. Adil Raja stated that India has a strong technology base and already established global trade networks, making Pakistan’s economy appear dwarfed in comparison. Pakistan relies on IMF loans and is plagued by corruption.
He said that if trade is initiated through the ‘Punjab Corridor’, Pakistani businessmen won’t last even two minutes in front of Indian entrepreneurs. This is because Indian businessmen have a strong technological network, highly skilled artisans, and India possesses a vast market for manufacturing goods, which will have an adverse effect on Pakistan and could devastate Pakistan’s industry and agriculture.
Adil Raja has alleged that the Pakistan Army and Shahbaz Sharif’s government are leading towards an economic gamble with ‘Greater Punjab’, which could make Pakistan an economical slave of India.
