Abstract:
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has received
global attention as the flagship project of the Chinese Belt and
Road initiative. While CPEC is considered to be a wellthought and well-crafted initiative, this paper evaluates its
possible dividends for Pakistan and scope of regional
cooperation. It highlights the urgent need to introduce
technological modifications and structural reforms in the
trade, industrial and manufacturing sector to help maintain a
balanced export-import ratio, alongside minimisation of
energy losses, trade and budget deficits. The essence of any
Economic Corridor remains unfulfilled if it fails to engage
regional neighbours, in this case India, Iran and Afghanistan in
the obvious presence of deep-rooted conflicts, fragile security
issues and strategic interests. Increased economic
interdependence may help reduce the level of anxiety shared
by regional neighbours and Pakistan. Growing energy and
communication infrastructural needs in the region can also
enable a confluence of differing national interests into
mutually beneficial grounds of cooperation
