China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Its Influence on Perceived Economic and Social Goals: Implications for Social Policy Makers

Abstract

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has initiated as a mega project by China and Pakistan to benefit economic growth and free trade. CPEC is in the initial stage, and policymakers and government officials consider CPEC as a “game-changer” for both the countries, as, potentially, it will generate numerous business and employment opportunities for local citizens as well as international outreach. Recently, a plethora of research has discussed both the macro as well as micro level advantages of CPEC, but has only been focused theoretically due to the emerging term. How beneficial the CPEC for a local community, and how it is perceived by the local people is not yet discussed by prior studies. This research fills the gap and examines the potential benefits of CPEC for local citizens of Pakistan. A mixed method approach was adopted to collect the data, as survey through structured questionnaire was conducted with a total of 445 citizens (323 male and 122 female), and a face-to-face interview with 32 citizens (28 male and four female) from the communities living along the CPEC routes. The findings show that, through the development of CPEC, local citizens perceive significant improvement in their lives, particularly the quality of life, better employment opportunities, and poverty reduction, while they have an insignificant perception about environmental protection and quality of education. This research recommends policy makers to build new educational institutions, encourage investors to invest in the industrial sector, and formulate environmental strategies to unleash maximum benefits of CPEC. Moreover, government official and policy makers may create awareness of CPEC projects and their benefits among the communities to get their support.

Sustainable Development under Belt and Road Initiative: A Case Study of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s Socio-Economic Impact on Pakistan

“…Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become of central focus worldwide due to their favorable outcomes in health, environment, sustainability, quality of life, and economic development [92]. The necessary facilities of life such as health, education, transportation, market, and banking can be easily accessed through the CPEC in remote areas of Pakistan.…”

China-Pakistan economic corridor and its impact on rural development and human life sustainability. Observations from rural women

“…CPEC is expected to enhance the social goals of the people in terms of quality life, living standard and job opportunities. Hence, it gives recommendations to the policymakers for considering the environmental aspects while devising the strategies and programs in different regions [15]. It is also suggested for China and Pakistan to create safe and effective investment policies to encourage stakeholders and let them invest in different industrial projects to provide the basic facilities such as health, education and living standards [50].…”

“…Hence, they would not be able to secure the desired employment in the relevant industries [51]. Similarly, Saad, Xinping [15] also stated that CPEC can potentially harm the environment because of the mega infrastructural projects, however, they can be overcome by providing necessary safety training and employing the environment-friendly practices during work. Policymakers have committed to ensuring that CPEC would radically improve the lives of the poor communities and help in poverty alleviation enabling them to enjoy a good and satisfactory life [58].…”

Is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor an Opportunity or a Threat for Small and Micro-Entrepreneurs? Empirical Evidence from Northern Pakistan

“…The project passes through 300 km from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), northern Pakistan. Researchers and policymakers consider the corridor as a game-changing project for both China and Pakistan [9,29]. Resultantly, because of improved infrastructure and communications, and stability under the CPEC, GB has been witnessing an increasing trend of tourist inflow.…”

“…Currently, the region is experiencing rapid tourism growth [7] due to investments under the CPEC, China's flagship mega-project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) [8]. The economic corridor that links Pakistan to China via Karakoram Highway (KKH, the old silk route) has resulted in peace restoration, infrastructure development, and better connectivity and communication [9,10]. The mega project has the potential to bring economic opportunities to Pakistan and can enhance regional and cross regional economic and trade relations between Central Asia, South Asia, East and West Asia [11].…”