Abstract

China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a receptacle of territorial connectivity focusing on the significance of the geostrategic location of Pakistan.  Pakistan and China have embarked on their best to implement the project to be triumphant in the concatenation of South Asia. The main bureaus that it encompasses are an integrated conveyance and I.T. network entailing Rail, Road, and data transmission channels, energy complicity, agrarian enhancement, social and economic progress, tourism alliance, financial and human resource integration. The corridor had some complications while implementation, but it has substantiated to be a game-changer program. This study assists in assessing the momentum amassed by Pakistan and China in South Asia while elaborating the beneficiaries of the CPEC and the potential threats faced by the political adversaries of Pakistan, especially India, on the triumphant facets bestowed by CPEC. The research will entangle the analysis of the short and long-term prospects of CPEC.

Key Words

CPEC, South Asia, Socio-Economic Development, Regional Integration

Introduction

With the demise of the cold war, the strategies for monetary globalization were amassed. With an advent of a contemporary era, the geostrategic prerogatives were being adopted by the states to get privileges from financial synergy and confederation to govern the political and diplomatic challenges. Hence with this revolutionary sensation creeping into the global trends with which countries have initiated the creation of projects and frames augmented financial collaboration. Similarly, Pakistan and China's conventional and substantial comrades joined their hands to bolster their reciprocal finances and political connection. Since 2000 both countries have been striving to develop a project. Hence consequently, by 2013, both countries were able to catch upbeat and promoted their economic alliance to an upgraded decree that was parallel to the military and diplomatic union. 

This project was indeed a phenomenal diplomatic receptacle for achieving the motive of an endurable monetary coalition. The main milestone attained by this project was the connection of the deep-sea ports of Gwadar and the Arabian sea of Karachi to the Chinese territory Xinjiang beyond by overland avenues, through the network of railways, highways, airports, and energy pipelines. This incorporates the frontiers that border Xinjiang, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, India, and the Silk Road of Pakistan. The Gwadar port, the terminus of the corridor and is situated in The Arabian Sea and withholds a substantial geostrategic location in Central and South Asia and the Middle East.  The project has been critical to ameliorating the time and cost of transportation of various goods and commodities, principally natural gas, to China by getting around Malacca and the South China Sea.  In fact, it has been declared as the gateway for approximately the world's oil. (Rauf 2017). Further, the CPEC will be the largest land corridor of approximately 2,500-30,000 km from China's northwestern autonomous region Kashgar of Xinjiang, to Pakistan's southern port of Gwadar in Baluchistan. Some additional projects are implicated in this corridor, such as space and satellite endeavors taken in 2016.

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CPEC is a significant and extraordinary example of a mutually beneficial journey being ventured by both countries, and it has been anticipated that the project will be not only tremendous success for China and Pakistan but also other regional actors incorporating approximately sixty countries all across Asia, Europe, and Africa to bring unparalleled economic consequences. (Butt 2015). Its significance can be evaluated from the worlds of ambassador of CPEC, Ahmed Masood, 

“A catalyst of regional economic integration and a vital bridge at the confluence of the on Road and the Belt is located at the crossroads of Central Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia.”

The basis of the project was initiated way back in 1990 when a military crusade was inaugurated by American administrator George Bush against Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11 incursions. After the war on terror in Afghanistan, Pakistan was left alone and nudged Pakistan into extreme social, political, and financial dilemmas. Furthermore, the USA also imposed sanctions on Pakistan after it signed a contract with China for a missile and nuclear program. However, China and Pakistan relations trembled for a bit when Pakistan was accused of raising and hosting terrorists, but indeed a loyal comrade, China never left Pakistan. In fact, China kept on revising its geopolitical strategies towards Pakistan and ultimately decided to enter into a strong bond of geo-economic and geopolitical coalition with Pakistan in the form of CPEC. (Rehamn, 2017)

The historical perspective of the project found it's a reflection in the regime of General Pervez Musharraf, which was later adopted by then the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari.  However, the endeavor gained momentum when the President handed the contract of operation to China, and later on, the contract was approved by the Port of Singapore Authority and was transferred to a Chinese firm.  And in 2013, the government of Nawaz Sharif took an accelerated pace for the development of the projects. And after the visit of the Chinese primer Li Keqiang, the project was officially announced in August 2013, leading to the inauguration of the CPEC secretariat in the capital territory of the state, Islamabad, for the buildup of further relations between the two states, giving life to a prolonged dream. In 2024, the President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussein, toured China to communicate the prospects of CPEC with the premiere of CPEC and the President of China, followed by the visit of Nawaz Sharif two months later for further agreements. Hence, in April 2015 the Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan and expedited the project. It was the juncture when both administrators signed 51 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) of net worth $46 billion and performed groundbreaking of five significant energy projects. The investment of $46 billion has been the highest investment being made by China in any country. (Makhdoom, 2017)

The CPEC has, however, triggered a series of familial and political controversies in Pakistan. Initially, a dispute began between the political parties and provinces on the themes of road and railway routes between the Gwadar and China, igniting a fight over the financial distribution between the provinces.  (Farooq 2016)

CPEC has changed the dynamics of power and politics in South Asia, but the socio-economic diversity and its strategic implication have given rise to many regional conflicts. India is feared about its strategic orientation and that the completion of the CPEC might deteriorate its East-ward policy, specifically with central Asian states. Hence, it has been reported several times that the Indian intelligence agency RAW has formed special desks to undermine the corridor. Further, the Indian hostility towards this project of enhanced commercial diplomacy has been evidence of the threats India is confronting on the progress of CPEC. Moreover, the affidavits and non-conventional foreign posturing of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during transnational tours are intended to demolish the credibility and reliability of Pakistan as an independent state against the war on terror. This all seems a predetermined strategic plan to impair CPEC.  (Alam 2017)

Further, the CPEC has also impacted the relationships between Pakistan and India. The corridor which goes through the route of Gilgit Baltistan is joined with Kashmir, which has been for so long claimed by both states, which had been a headache for India as CPEC establishment will empower Gilgit and will develop the interest of people in the government, eradicating the exotic policies and strategies of India. (Joshi, 2017)

Research Methodology

The nature of these research studies is exploratory. The qualitative method has been adopted to understand the pertaining issues theoretically. As for as data collection is concerned, the desktop survey technique is applied, which incorporates in-depth information and analysis of pertaining literature from research journals, books, weblinks, media reports, Pakistan's governmental CPEC portal, and the website of the Chinese embassy in Pakistan. Further, the desktop survey also included the analysis of Indian reviews, especially Indian newspapers and blogs of themes showing the raising concerns of CPEC on the political and social decorum. Moreover, some official interviews were being viewed to analyze their future strategies in South Asia, where their rival is constantly becoming gigantic power. The data accessible from these case studies enabled us to decipher the impact of CPEC on the social, political, and economic facets of the country and its impact on South Asia.

Primary data retrieved through substantial fieldwork/survey implicated the subject and scope of this research, analyzing the socio-economic dimensions of CPEC and Indian reservations regarding CPEC. Primary data retrieved from CPEC related organizations, both at the provincial and federal level, informal conversations, and conventions with the CPEC authorities, stakeholders, and the CPEC professionals. Furthermore, informal discussions included symposia with the directors of the projects of CPEC and economic professionals and financial bureaus to talk over the economic impact of CPEC that has been implemented over the years. Moreover, it also incorporated the interviews of political administrators to analyze the political benefits and flaws that have been executed by CPEC in the country. 




Objectives

Evaluation of Socio-economic Impact of CPEC

• To evaluate the socio-economic impact of CPEC in Pakistan and China and the changes it has implemented in the region for the integration of regional and non-regional actors in South Asia.




Analysis of Strategic Plans of CPEC

• To analyze the long-term and short-term strategic plans of CPEC and the collaboration it's intended to make by the expansion of its project with different European, Asian, and African states in the prospect.

Progress of CPEC in Different Departments

• To assess the endeavors undertaken by CPEC in the department of trade, commerce, electricity generation, energy crisis, foreign direct investment, infrastructure, and other facets in both Pakistan and the other Confederate States.

Examination of Influence of CPEC on India

• To examine the economic and political influence of CPEC on the conventional rival of Pakistan; India, and which strategies have been implemented by the Indian administrators to impede the progress of the project.

Theoretical Framework

From a theoretical perspective, the literary school of thought asserted that trade and financial interdependence expands consensus and regional harmony and reduces the probability of war. One of the most significant theories in this respect is the hypothesis of “Complex Interdependence” proposed by Joseph Nye and Robert Keohane manifested that states are integrated into doctrines of interdependence. Likewise, in the modern era, where coalition and alliance are a necessity, no state can prevail individually and separately without the establishment of relations with other states. No state is powerful or self-sufficient enough to be self-reliant.  Hence, the collaboration of every state with others is exhibited for attaining the primary motives of economic promotion and development. Henceforth, the sphere of globalization has been augmented through these associations. Further, state relations were evaluated by Robert Keohane and Joseph S. Nye in the philosophy of cooperation which counteracts the fundamental hypothesis of Realism and proponents the system of interdependence in states. Hence the pattern of interaction of Chinese policy towards other South Asian states can be illustrated in this perspective of complex interdependence. And, overall, this interdependence is not exclusive to mutual revenues and interests but is associated with the mutual interests of all the countries characterized by competition and cooperation.




Research Questions

Implications of CPEC and impact on South Asia

What are the social, economic, and political implications of CPEC in Pakistan and China, and how can the project integrate territorial and non-territorial states in South Asia?




Long and Short-term Strategic Plans of CPEC

What are the long-term and short-term plans which have to complete under the roof of CPEC, and how will CPEC strengthen the economy of both China and Pakistan by expanding its collaboration all across Asian, European, and African states?




Operations Undertaken by CPEC

Which operations are being progressed by the corridor in the department of tourism, electricity production, infrastructure, foreign direct investment, trade, and other aspects in Pakistan and South Asia?




The Economic and Political Impact of CPEC on India

What are the financial, diplomatic, and political impacts of CPEC on India, and which obstacles are being hurled by India to halt the accelerated progress of CPEC?

Discussion

CPEC is an influential and avant-garde for Pakistan, which has been received by the gloomy era of terrorism since the last two decades, which devastated the political, diplomatic, economic, and foreign aspects of Pakistan. However, since the inception of CPEC, things have, somehow, stabilized, and this stability is expected to augment. Following are some of the projects which had been a part of CPEC and led to prosperity in the region:




Trade and Infrastructure of CPEC

The China Pakistan Economic corridor is a bilateral collaborative endeavor of a 3,000 km receptacle of highways, railways, oil pipelines, and connections of optical fibers. This ambition of "the one belt and one road" is not only constructive for China and Pakistan but has also been profiting 4.4 billion inhabitants of the world and has bolstered 29% of the world's financial attainment. The corridor has also been vital to developing a gigantic network of upgraded infrastructure in the entire territory, including Azad Kashmir and Baluchistan (the backward areas of the country), and in establishing profound economic alliances to Europe, Africa, and the entirety of the hemisphere with a motive of nurturing trade and commerce in the country. (Hadi, 2017)

This can be elaborated that under the project approximately, 1100 km extended motorway between Lahore and Karachi has been constructed. In addition to the lengthy network of 2700 km motorway from Kashgar to Gwadar is under process. The project has also been successful in the proposed up-gradation of the Karakoram highway located between Rawalpindi and the Khanjrab, construction of KKH phase II, Karachi-Peshawar motorway, Khuzdar-Basima road, KKH Thakot-Raikot, and up-gradation of D.I. khan Zhob N-50 phase. Further, some other refurbishing is also a part of the project incorporating railway lines, some of which have been completed, and some are under process. This mega-physical planned enhancement of infrastructure has fostered not only the connectivity of Pakistan and China but also has inflated the potential connection to India, Iran, and Afghanistan. These projects were designated to be complete in three intervals; short-term projects were to be executed by 2017 (which had been successful), midterm projects are anticipated to be complete by 2025, and long-term projects are expected to be complete by 2030.  (Rafi 2018)

The first level comprised of the completion of Gwadar port and the International Airport, which had been completed by 2017. The middle-term projects have been initiated, and the Chinese and Pakistani engineers are working round the clock.

As far as the trade aspect is concerned, CPEC had led to the opening of several opportunities for local traders of Gilgit and entire Pakistan by connecting the northern areas of Rawalpindi with Peshawar and Lahore. This has helped to augment the trade of agricultural commodities due to better connectivity bestowed by the enhanced infrastructure as a result of the CPEC. Balti commodities, including fruits, were previously being sent by the air-cargo to China through Dubai, but after the construction of CPEC has been progressed, the same fruits are being sent by cheaper and faster means that is by road to China through Xinjiang, which has reduced approximately an expanse of 2000 miles. The socio-economic benefits offered by CPEC to Pakistan are evident from the declaration that only Pakistan is the state in the world that is expecting that essentially 70% of maritime trade recourses will unlock the portal to finances for its inhabitants. (dad was, 2017)

Evaluated the impact of the CPEC on social welfare found that the districts of Sindh and Baluchistan, located just around the locality and route of CPEC, will be considered beneficial as compared to the other territories of Pakistan.




CPEC and Foreign Direct Investment

Foreign direct investment has been radically revolutionized since the first term completion of the proposed plans in 2017 for $50 billion was invested by China, among which $35 billion were utilized for energy projects, and $15 billion were used in the infrastructural department. However, this in the vestment is just a spectacle. It has been evaluated that till 2022, the project will captivate foreign investors and will entrench $55 billion. 

The State Bank of Pakistan documented that Pakistan had received$975.4 million in FDI during the tenure of 2015-2016, and issuances of China to Pakistan were $2.1 billion, increasing the net FDI to $516 million in Pakistan during 2016.

The interest of international investors in the project can be evaluated from the statement of Dr.  Miftah Ismail, who proclaimed that miscellaneous forthcoming investors had exhibited their desire to invest $150 billion in assorted business and manufacturing centers of Pakistan in 2016. This can be evaluated from the fact that the net FDI of Pakistan in 2011-2012 was $870 million, which increased to $25612 in 2020 (Foreign direct investment, net inflows-Pakistan, 2020), despite the pandemic which caused a gigantic loss to the global market and enterprise. The success of CPEC in engaging foreign investors is also pronounced from the fact that several south Asian countries have expressed their desire to collaborate with Pakistan and China in CPEC, among which Iran and Tajikistan are included. (Irshad, 2016)

Hence, immense investment is being made by foreign states in machined farming, electricity-operated cottage industry, the edifice of transportation, high-capacity industrial unit, tourism, consultancy, and the medical sector.

Hence, this enhanced FDI from all around the world to Pakistan is an indicator of the economic prosperity and stability of Pakistan.




CPEC and Energy Crises

In the present era, energy has been a key player in the development of a country. Presently all of the countries with more than self-sufficient energy generation are ruling the world and have emerged as the global powers. Hence, it has been evaluated that higher energy production is proportional to the higher financial growth of a country. However, Pakistan has been successful in increasing its electricity production since the last decade, which can be viewed that in 2010 that electricity generation in Pakistan was apparently, 4195 GWH to approximately 16168 GWH in 2020, just because of the electricity production plants which were constructed under the broad frontier of CPEC. These plants include; Balloki power plant, Bhakki power plant, Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant, and Tarbela 4 extension program. These developments have led to the enhancement of energy production in Pakistan, leading to a better economy and GDP. 

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Renewable Energy Projects

Pakistan has initiated a couple of energy projects with the assistance of foreign companies. The world's largest solar plant, Quaid-e-Azam solar park near Bahawalpur, occupying the land of 6500 acres and an estimated power of 1000MW, has been built by a Chinese company under the panorama of CPEC. Similarly, Pakistan Consortium United Energy is also producing electricity of 250 MW under CPEC. Likewise, the other primary financer programs of CPEC are Exim Bank and China's silk road fund, and an enhanced project, the Kohala hydropower project with a capacity of 1100 MW and the most momentous project being initiated under the roof of CPEC has been the construction of Diamer Basha Dam, and it is anticipated that the Dam will be able to generate approximately electricity of 45,000 MW. The construction of the Dam begins in 2020 and is expected to generate electricity in 2028. However, the Thar I project under the badge of CPEC has been completed approximately 40? by the February of 2021, which after completion will have the capacity to generate 660 MW power plants by utilizing locally sourced coal, and the Thar II project is reckoned to produce 3.8 million tons of coal per year. Hence, collectively approximately 21 projects on coal, solar energy, and had have been signed with a collaborative tendency to produce 10,400 MW of energy.




CPEC and Employment

Another important social and economic aspect of CPEC is the opportunities that it will produce for the youth to practice their qualifications. The project has been found to produce approximately 70,000 direct jobs during the prolonged tenure of 2025-2030 and 1.4 indirect jobs in the sector of supply chain and services. Official data revealed that at the end of 2017, approximately 30,000 doctors and engineers were being employed under the projects of CPEC from 2016 to 2017. Furthermore, 16000 people were employed in the energy sector, 5000 in the Port Qasim power plant, 3000 in Sahiwal solar power plant, 3000 in the Quaid-e-Azam power plant, 13000 in the power sector, and 2500 in the free zone project in Gwadar.

Hence, with these ample bestowing’s, it is foreseen that CPEC will open a gateway to an optimistic future and provision of reliefs to provincial and central governments to nurture industrial mansions along the routes of CPEC and transformation of Pakistan from an agricultural country to an industrialized state with a strengthening economy, enabling the state to manufacture locally produced commodities with meager tariff to compete with South Asian powers including China and India in the global market.




CPEC and Tourism

Tourism plays a fundamental role in the per capita income, which indirectly refers to its significance in the economic development of a country. But Pakistan being a victim of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, had long been globally isolated with the declaration of a lethal title of terrorists being unified with the name of the state, impeding tourism and foreign investors. However, since the beginning of the CPEC, the conditions have been refined, which is apparent from the fact that the contribution of GDP to the tourism industry in Pakistan has been 7.1% in 2020 despite the pandemic which closed all the frontier and aviation's operations as compared to 0.18% in 2012. However, there are some other factors in this bolstering of the tourism industry, but CPEC indeed has been pivotal to its advancement, and it has been evaluated that by 2022 approximately the contribution of tourism to GDP will increase up to 9% along with the creation of many job opportunities (Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP as a share of GDP, 2019). Further, the infrastructure is enhanced by CPEC, especially in northern territories that have connected to other parts of Pakistan, and these areas have commendable potential to attract tourism, leading to stabilized society and economy.




CPEC and Power Politics

From an International perspective, power politics has been illustrated as the strategies being adopted to increase power for personal privileges and interests of the state. China has constantly been increasing its political leverage by increasing the capital-based development in the entire world rather than military connections. This has been pronounced in miscellaneous techniques being undertaken by China, and the leading faction of the GDP of China is composed of the exports of the state (khan 2016). And to pursue these exports, China has found a connection of sea routes from Kashgar to Gwadar that, in fact, is a substitute, short and continual route, which is indirectly augmenting the regional power of China by boosting its economic development. China has been influencing the world for the past 15 years, being a rising power financially and diplomatically. For China to pursue resources in other parts of the world is an innate strategy of being a global power, but they are playing a bit different from the other world and especially the USA who doesn't work through alliances. However, this strategic plan of China has been assisted, somehow by Pakistan and the CPEC, which has enabled China to spread its sphere of influence in Asia, Africa, and Europe, enabling it to emerge as a global power in prospect. (Jaleel, 2019)




CPEC and India

CPEC has been a bilateral endeavor for China and Pakistan, empowering both states by an economic up-gradation. However, where CPEC has led to the integration of the South Asian states, with the evolution of Asia as a dominant continent, but Indian politics has been shaken by this prosperity, and economic stability is constantly creeping into the territories of Pakistan. This shock was felt in the entire world when the minister for external affairs affirmed, "economically prosper Pakistan is more dangerous than nuclear Pakistan." 

For a long, China and India have been amongst the key players and emerging economies of Asia. Both states always had some sort of competition as well as cooperation. However, after enjoying the global inclination and bestowing, India has been in threat because of CPEC, which contradicts the Indian dominance in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Further, the CPEC also connects Afghanistan, UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Central Asian republics, which obviously, India is not capable of. (Hussain 2017)

India is both a rival of Pakistan and a competitor of China and has a large proportion of the world's total community, owning nuclear bombs, and shares its border with both China and Pakistan. Though, Pakistan and China might consider the alliance of India in CPEC if wished by India due to the above-mentioned facets. But India is not likely to join CPEC because of two reasons; firstly because of the existence of the Chinese naval presence at Gwadar, which is not appreciated by the Indian administration because it somehow restricts Indian monetary and strategic recourse being an adversary of China, and secondly because of the route of CPEC which passes through the territory of Gilgit Baltistan, a region of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Simultaneously, India has come up with a new strategy that is the construction of Chabahar port in Iran, to enhance its politico-economic interests in the region. However, the investment in this project has been much lower in comparison with the CPEC. Chabahar port is located in the Southeastern part of Iran. One of the major reasons for the initiation of this port is that it will open the ways to India to get access to some South Asian countries and especially Afghanistan. The project was announced in 2016 on 23rd May by the Indian Prime Minister, who signed 12 agreements with the Iranian leader, Hassan Rohani.

Despite these endeavors, India has never departed Pakistan and keeps its support to Pakistan by every possible assistance, whether they are spies incorporating Kulboshan Yadav or aviation interference encompassing Abhinandan, and now it has been reported that the special intelligence cell of the Indian research and analysis wing is trying its best to surge some impediments in the smooth way of CPEC. RAW has been found to invest a big amount of currency in breaking the chain of this mega project. This money is going to be spent on terrorist litigations that may prove beneficial in generating a series of disputes between Pakistan and China. And in fact, the consequences will be the same as they have been in both cases, and that is the victory of Pakistan in saving our integrity.

However, despite the constant efforts of Indian forces to derail the project of CPEC because of the essence of xenocentrism because of its desire to rule on Asia but the significance of CPEC has captivated the whole world, making CPEC a reorganization of South Asia. 




Regional Integration

CPEC has been a significant project for Pakistan and has swapped revolutionary improvements in miscellaneous departments. CPEC has not only provided a chance for the economic growth of Pakistan but also for other countries all around the world. It has been indicated by the reports of the World Bank that the participation of many states in CPEC and had helped the world and Pakistan to attain regional integration. Further, some other steps should be taken for the essential integration in the region for the hegemony of trade and advancement of infrastructure.  The document labeled as "Pakistan@100: shaping the future" claimed that CPEC could be employed for the better relation of Pakistan with other states, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia. 

Conclusion and Findings

CPEC has been a game-changer that has changed the entire prospect of Pakistan and China, in addition to other South Asian states. Both of the states are committed to completing the project smoothly, and it is inferred that the endurable implementation and substantial operation of the CPEC project will further intensify trade and energy cooperation between China and Pakistan, benefitting three billion inhabitants all across South Asia and the Middle East. Further, CPEC has also figured out the energy crisis that Pakistan bad been encountering for decades. CPEC has also broadened the connections of Pakistan. After the war on terror, Pakistan was globally isolated and reputed as a terrorist state in the entire world with no foreign investment. However, the mega project under CPEC has led to the communion of Pakistan with its three neighbors on East, West, and north.  Moreover, CPEC has also empowered Pakistan with an opportunity to revise its financial configuration through the expansion of its energy sector and especially through the greater connectivity that has been provided by the enhanced framework of infrastructure formulated under the roof of CPEC. This infrastructure has also boosted the trade efficacy of Pakistan, opening new gateways to better the economic power of the state.

It is speculated by the administration of Pakistan that through CPEC has and will perform an integral role in the modification of economic, social, and political conditions of entire South Asia and chiefly Pakistan, but the realization and constant implementation of the project greatly depends on the persistent exertions and determination of both collaborative partners encompassing Pakistan and China. And these persistent efforts entail the strict implementation of all memorandums of understanding. Further, the quality of the labor and inspection of performances is requisite for the desired completion of the projects. Not only this but a complete strategic plan must be implicated to avoid all sorts of corruption in the project. Furthermore, the security of all workers, engineers, technicians, and labor who are immersed in the completion of the corridor has been ensured, and it has been guaranteed miscellaneous times by the officials that the project shall be completed in the announced time, that is by 2030. Further, CPEC is also significant in transforming Pakistan's geostrategic location possession. The country entrepreneurs in both the business community and private sector have anticipated the momentum of the CPEC and have played their definite role by investing and making CPEC a success. Hence all the major findings of the study concurrent at one fundamental point of the prosperity in Pakistan are influenced by the trade influx, foreign investment, eradication of the dilemmas related to energy delinquency, a surge of tourism, enhanced infrastructure, and better foreign relations inflicted by the enhanced connectivity and the integration of South Asia which has been emerging as a dominant power in the region. Hence, this project has been a key to opening several forts, each with its unique benefit.

Hence, this project has pursued economic potential for the whole world. In this contemporary era of interdependence, the whole world has been integrated, and the OBOR project of China contemplated "the Marshall plan," which changed the socio-economic and sociopolitical atmosphere of the world, will not be completed without CPEC. Hence, CPEC is a positive step for regional integration of the world.

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