Since the beginning of the idea of CPEC, it faced multiple challenges. Domestically, poor security situation is one of the biggest challenges of the country. Terrorism engulfed the region after 9/11. Suicide bombings and targeted killings were routine. Situation went from bad to worse. Fear gripped the entire country. Hardly, a city was immune from this menace. The sensitive installations like Karachi Airport, Mehran Base, Army Headquarters (GHQ), etc. were attacked. Attack on Army Public School (APS), Peshawar was the extreme of brutality where 146 innocent school children were martyred. Moreover, many notable personalities like Benazir Bhutto, KPK’s senior minister Bashir Bilour, Interior Minister of Punjab Shuja Khanzada became victim of this scourge. Security is much better now than the past. However, still managing security remains a challenge. Mainstream media reported that there is “70% decrease in terrorism related incidents as compared to pre-2014 situation.” Unfortunately, on October 24, 2016, terrorist carried out attack on Police Training School in Queeta in which more than 60 people were killed. It indicates, despite military operations and relative peace, security challenges persist.
Political instability is another important challenge which our country is facing. Since its inception, instability continued in a new born country due to the absence of the constitution. First constitution was promulgated after 9 years. The constitutions of 1956 and 1962 were abrogated by military dictators soon after the promulgation. After the death of Liaquat Ali Khan, in a short span of time from 1951 to 1958, six prime ministers were dismissed and installed one after the other. Benazir Bhutto’s and Nawaz Sharif’s first and second tenure met the same fate. Thus, the frequent change of governments without completing the tenure of five years weakened the country politically. But, last PPP government completed its five years. It paved the way for successful democratic transition.