Pakistan-China Strategic Partnership Under CPEC: Challenges For Pakistan

Abstract

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can be discussed as a historic project reinforcing the old-standing strategic and economic relations between China and Pakistan. Pakistan is highly geopolitical to China as it gives them a strategic entry point to the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and Europe with a secure and efficient connectivity. The objective of CPEC is to contribute to the regional integration, strengthen the trade cooperation, and achieve the prosperity of the region due to the large-scale development of infrastructure and economic projects. In addition to bilateral relations, CPEC impacts are not only in Asia but also in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, thus, it is a revolutionary project in the region. CPEC can transform trade, commerce, and connectivity of the region, as the connection between Kashgar in China and Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea can change the world. Nonetheless, the project has a number of internal and external threats especially in Pakistan. This paper analyses the opportunities and challenges of CPEC, as well as looks into the solutions to problems that will result to its successful application and sustainability.