Do Pakistani leaders really need to heed President Xi Jinping's call for the Global Governance Initiative (GGI)? What does this initiative mean for a country like Pakistan — reeling from natural disasters, widespread corruption and the persistent threat of terrorism?

A closer look reveals that the GGI should serve as more of an alarm bell for Pakistan's ruling class than for the leaders of most other nations.

Gwadar: A Microcosm of Governance Failure

Once hailed as the jewel in the crown of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Gwadar now presents a disheartening picture — a microcosm of crumbling governance, driven by populist impulses and an alarming absence of long-term vision.

The Gwadar Free Zone, intended to be a hub of industrial activity and international trade, has become a symbol of policy neglect and denial. Over 12 years since the CPEC agreement was signed in July 2013, only three of the 47 registered enterprises are reportedly operational — Agven Private Limited (fertiliser exports); Hangeng Agricultural Industrial Park (processing donkey meat for export); and Hengmei Lubricants Plant (lubricant production).

Meanwhile, six completed factories sit idle — non-functional due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, logistical failures or lack of support infrastructure.

The Roots of Resentment

Gwadar's problems are not confined to its industrial zone. Chronic power outages, water shortages, denial of justice, soaring unemployment and unchecked........

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