By Bradley Blankenship, an American journalist, columnist

Last week, Masoud Dorosti, the managing director of Tehran’s bustling metro system, dropped a bombshell: After seven years of intense negotiations, the Iranian capital is gearing up to welcome a whopping 791 sleek metro trains from China. It’s a move set to transform the city’s transit scene, injecting new life into a system that hasn’t seen a serious upgrade in half a decade.

But that’s not all. Tehran’s mayor, Alireza Zakani, threw in another ace from his sleeve last month, unveiling a flurry of contracts inked with Chinese giants aimed at giving the city’s infrastructure a serious facelift. From major transportation projects to ambitious construction ventures, China’s fingerprints may soon be all over Tehran’s urban landscape. Heck, they’re even rolling up their sleeves to erect housing units in this sprawling metropolis of nearly 9 million souls.

For anyone who’s ever wandered the bustling streets of China’s megacities, the thought of Tehran sporting a metro system rivaling any of China’s tier-one cities isn’t just a pipe dream; it’s a tantalizing glimpse into the future. With its sleek trains zipping through immaculate stations, China’s urban rail network sets the gold standard for public transportation worldwide. Could Tehran, a city boxed in by international sanctions, really outshine the likes of New York City’s aging subway system?

Well, that wouldn’t actually be that hard – but it’s worth rewinding a bit.

This metro makeover isn’t just a spur-of-the-moment fling; it’s part of a grand strategic partnership inked back in 2016 between Iran and China, and later bolstered in 2021 with a 25-year plan. With a target of $600 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2026, an increasing amount of which is done in the Chinese national currency, this pact isn’t just about shiny new trains – it’s about forging a bond that runs deep, touching on everything from trade and economics to transportation and beyond.

At its core, the China-Iran partnership is a symphony of economic, political, and military notes, echoing across the Middle East and beyond. While the US grapples with its own internal squabbles, Beijing and Tehran are busy cozying up, flexing their muscles, and throwing down the gauntlet to Western hegemony in the region.

Read: Tehran To Buy 791 Metro Trains From China

Economically, this partnership is a match made in heaven. China’s insatiable hunger for energy dovetails perfectly with Iran’s vast oil and gas reserves, while Tehran sees Beijing as a lifeline amid mounting economic pressures and diplomatic isolation. With Western sanctions breathing down its neck, Iran’s embrace of China isn’t just strategic – it’s survival instinct.

Beyond economic ties, the China-Iran partnership holds significant geopolitical implications, challenging the traditional hegemony of Western powers in the Middle East. As China expands its presence in the region through ambitious infrastructure projects and strategic investments, it seeks to carve out a greater role in shaping regional dynamics, countering Western influence, and advancing its own strategic interests.

Read: From Iran, Syria and Afghanistan to Ukraine: U.S. Empire Sows Violence and Chaos Yet Again

By aligning with Beijing, Tehran aims to enhance its strategic autonomy, diversify its diplomatic and economic partnerships, and bolster its leverage on the global stage, presenting a united front against Western pressure and isolation.

However, the burgeoning China-Iran alliance is not without its challenges and complexities. As Beijing deepens its engagement with Tehran, it risks alienating key regional players and drawing the ire of Western powers wary of China’s expanding influence.

The stakes are high, with Beijing’s expanding influence drawing scrutiny and skepticism from all corners.

Yet, within Iran itself, the path forward is anything but smooth. There is domestic dissent, with voices like Ahmad Khorram, a former minister under President Mohammad Khatami, decrying Beijing’s encroachment on local turf as an affront to Iran’s engineering prowess. And while trade figures paint a rosy picture, with a paltry $12.5 billion exchanged last year compared to the lofty $600 billion goal, tensions simmer beneath the surface.

Troubles don’t end there. Recent squabbles over oil prices and diplomatic jousting in the Red Sea hint at deeper fissures within this budding alliance. But amidst the turbulence, one thing remains clear: The stakes are too high to ignore. Zooming out, the geopolitical chessboard takes shape, with China and Iran’s strategic gambit reshaping the regional landscape. A 25-year deal signed in 2021 sets the stage for a bold new era of cooperation, with Beijing’s vision for regional security and stability taking center stage.

Read: First cross-border railway between Afghanistan and Iran launched

But not everyone’s on board. Traditional adversaries such as Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States eye this burgeoning alliance cautiously, wary of the shifting tides in Middle Eastern politics. Yet, even amid lingering tensions, glimmers of hope emerge, with China’s role as a mediator facilitating a thaw in Saudi-Iranian relations last year.

And then there’s the elephant in the room – the US and its band of allies, forever casting a shadow over regional affairs. As China lends a helping hand in revamping Tehran’s metro, one might wonder if Uncle Sam is jealous given that its handful of metro systems are rat factories.

The bigger picture is clear: It’s no longer the US that has a monopoly on trade, technology, or foreign direct investment. China is already the world leader in global infrastructure development and is outpacing the US in research and development. Before long, Washington’s sanctions will be, as Jean Dujardin’s character described a subpoena from the US Department of Justice in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ papier toilette.

Read: Mehran of Sindh and Iran

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Courtesy: RT.Com (Posted on March 14, 2024)

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Abu Dhabi

The Global Competitiveness Report 2023, issued by the World Economic Forum at Davos, ranked the UAE fourth globally in infrastructure quality.

Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said: “The recognition is a testament to the ongoing efforts, planning, and substantial investments made by the government to develop the country’s infrastructure. In the past ten years, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure invested AED 13 billion to execute 258 projects. Our plan for the next five years involves the construction of 127 security, educational, service, and road projects at a cost of AED 9 billion to meet the needs of various areas across the UAE. In 2023 alone, we constructed, maintained, and increased the efficiency of government service buildings at a cost over AED 1.5 billion.”

He added: “Following the directives of our wise leadership, the Ministry is keen to launch initiatives and projects that support the UAE’s development and competitiveness. It is a strategic priority for the Ministry to deliver advanced infrastructure and arterial roads that improve the quality of life for our people and enhance the national economy. We thank everyone who contributed to this achievement. The UAE is on its way to achieving more successes in various fields. “We value the efforts of the ministry’s partners, which have yielded outstanding successes that were the result of joint integrated work between various government agencies, both federal and local.”

Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, said: “Infrastructure in the UAE is considered a leading global model. The country has developed its infrastructure according to the best international standards and specifications, which has brought it to the ranks of major countries, within a short period of time.” She added: “Our wise government has paid great attention to the quality of infrastructure, ensuring integrated technological excellence for airports, seaports, the urban road network, tourist sites, hotels, and all types of transportation, in addition to the quality of electricity, communications, and all public services and facilities to provide the necessities of a decent life for all citizens and ensure their social and economic security.” It is noteworthy that the UAE’s advanced infrastructure has attracted foreign investments and enhanced the country’s GDP.

Published under the International Cooperation Protocol with Middle East Business

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Karachi, Sindh

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over a meeting to shape up Annual Development Program (ADP) for the next financial year-2023-24, has directed his planning & development team to prioritize the rehabilitation of flood-affected people, repair and maintenance of infrastructure devastated by the recent floods, prepare a plan for the development of agricultural and industrial sectors.

“We have to resolve the transport issue of Karachi by completing different BRT projects in the next financial year,” he said and directed his team to make necessary financial allocations accordingly.

The meeting held at CM House, was attended by Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Finance Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary to CM Rahim Shaikh, Member P&D Fatah Tunio, and others concerned.

It was pointed out that during the current financial year (2022-23) 4158 schemes, including 2506 ongoing and 1652 new were launched for Rs332.165 billion and then the allocation was revised to Rs.267.652 billion against which Rs181.8 have been released. The expenditures against the released amount have been recorded at Rs126.228 billion.

The chief minister directed the PD to complete at least 800 schemes by the end of the current financial year.

The chief minister giving c guidelines to the P&D for finalizing the ADP for the next financial year said priority would be given to the schemes of infrastructure damaged by the devastating floods. “I want to repair and reconstruct the school buildings, hospitals, roads, and irrigation network so that they could be made functional,” he said.

Shah said that the ongoing and new transport schemes for Karachi have to be completed and launched during the next financial year to resolve the transport issue of the city. “The P&D must propose the allocation of funds as local share for such foreign-funded transport schemes,” he said.

Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi briefing the CM said that six new foreign-funded schemes of the World Bank and one of the Asian Development Bank have been approved. They include WB- Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project for Rs48 billion, Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project for Rs.110 billion, Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation Project of Rs.64 billion, Sindh Integrated Health & Population Project Rs.55 billion and Strengthening the Social Delivery Protection System for Rs.42 billion and Sindh Flood Emergency Assistance Project by Asian Development Bank for Rs.43.9 billion.

The chief minister directed the P&D department to expedite the completion of the required formalities of the Rs.600 billion Karachi Water & Sewerage Service Improvement project so that water board services could be improved. He also discussed foreign-funded projects in the pipeline such as (WB) Sindh Transformation Accelerated Rural Services (STARS, the Sindh Livestock & Aquaculture Development (SLAD) project, and of Asian Development Bank’s projects, including the Sindh Secondary Cities Improvement Project, Phase-II, Katchi Abadi’s project, Sindh Coastal Resilience Project, Provincial Road Improvement Project, Sindh Health System Strengthening Project and Integrated Transport Improvement Project of Hyderabad.

The CM also directed all the departments to file their proposed schemes with the P&D so that they could be included in the next ADP. (PR)

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The state of infrastructure in developing nations can have a dramatic impact on economic progress, public health, and the overall quality of life experienced by citizens. Poor infrastructure is one of the greatest challenges faced by many countries around the world. It is often seen as an obstacle to economic development, leading to decreased productivity, increased poverty levels, and lower standards of living.

Though there are a variety of factors that contribute to poor infrastructure, some of the most prevalent include inadequate government investment, limited resources and uneven distribution of funds, corruption and mismanagement, a lack of technical knowledge, environmental degradation, and inadequate access to financing.

The consequences of inadequate infrastructure are severe and can be seen in developing nations across the globe. And the big example is Pakistan.

Poor infrastructure can lead to an increase in poverty and unemployment, inadequate access to healthcare and education, poor sanitation and hygiene, and weakened systems of transportation and communication. In addition, poor infrastructure can also create safety issues and limit the capacity of communities to respond effectively to disasters.

The government has constantly been claiming of concerted efforts for improving the infrastructure. These claims include increasing government investment in infrastructure, introducing innovative financing models, and engaging in public-private partnerships. The civil society can play an important role in advocating for improved infrastructure and providing support to vulnerable communities.

Azra Batool Dahani

Karachi Sindh

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