China Pakistan Economic Corridor: Challenges and Opportunities

Pak-China relations have been exemplary in the contemporary international politics. Both States have been maintaining strong ties in terms of diplomatic and military cooperation. However, the close economic cooperation has added a new dimension in the Pak-China all weather partnership. Over the years, China and Pakistan strategic cooperation has evolved at unprecedented level. In the year 2013, the Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the construction of One Belt One Road (OBOR) that aims to connect China with West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East. It is a bitter fact that, since 9/11 Pakistan has suffered in socio-political and especially in economic dimension. The regional security environment and rise of extremism and terrorism has resulted into the hampering economic development. Therefore, the CPEC project will prove to be game changer and when completed it will have deep impact on economic development of Pakistan in future. The CPEC provides an opportunity for Pakistan to stabilize its society and reshape its positive image at international level from fragile State to emerging economy in the South Asian region. The rise of China in economic sphere has been jealously seen by other developed countries while for Pakistan it has been a blessing factor. Thus, Pak- China strategic partnership entered into the new phase of economic cooperation that will certainly change the dynamics of the regional politics. This paper aims to discuss the multiple dimensions of CPEC its importance for Pakistan and China along with its internal and external challenges. Moreover, economic and security perspectives will be focused in detail. To fully understand the role of CPEC as driving force of economic prosperity, this paper discusses its potential as a game changer for both China and Pakistan. ___________

Immunophenotypic Profile of Acute Leukemias at Agakhan University Hospital, Nairobi

Background: Reliable distinction between AML and ALL is important for the selection of appropriate therapy. The final diagnosis of acute leukemia should be based on clinico-pathological, morphological, cytochemical and molecular cytogenetics data, together with immunophenotypic information. Flow cytometry has become the preferred method for the lineage assignment and maturational analysis of malignant cells in acute leukemias. Immunophenotyping has also allowed the detection of aberrant antigen co expression and the analysis of heterogeneity and clonality of malignant cells in acute leukemias. It is insufficient to merely make a diagnosis of acute leukemia, or even AML or ALL. Further classification is essential in order to determine the prognosis and select the most appropriate treatment. Furthermore, immunophenotypic characteristics of acute leukemias have not been described in Kenya yet and the existing immunophenotypic patterns of the disease in Nairobi are not known. Objective: The main objective was to determine the relative frequencies of Acute Leukemia immunophenotypes using commonly expressed markers and to describe clinicopathological characteristics. Setting: The study was carried out at Aga Khan University Hospital Laboratory between March 2009 and March 2010. Patients and methods: One hundred and thirty two consecutive blood and bone marrow specimens were analyzed for cytomorphological characteristics and immunophenotypic markers. The clinical-pathological characteristics were also recorded for each patient with acute leukemia. The immunological category was assigned using the EGIL criteria. The end point was the immunophenotypic profiles and the association of each immunophenotype with the clinical and pathological features. Immunophenotyping was done by Flow cytometry. Results: There were 132 patients in total in whom immunophenotyping was done. These comprised of 67(50.8%) males and 65(49.2%) females with M: F ratio of 1.03:1. The age ranged from 2 years to 87 years with a median age of 29.5 years. There were 88 cases of AML and 42 cases of ALL. Only 2 cases of biphenotypic leukemia were studied. AML was found to occur more in adults with a total of 76 (86.4%) cases in patients above 15 years of age and only 12 (13.6%) cases in those below 15 years of age. The commonest AML immunophenotype in all patients was AML-M2 accounting for 26 (29.5%) cases with 19 (21.5%) cases seen in adults and 7(7.95%) in children. The peak adult age range for AML patients was 41-50 years. The proportion of AML-M4 in this study was 19.3%. Majority of ALL cases were B-ALL phenotype at 29 (96.6%) with the dominance