Once conceived as a bilateral initiative between Pakistan and China, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has quietly transformed into one of the most crucial connectivity projects in the world today. What began in April 2013 as a 3,000-kilometer infrastructure vision has now become a bridge—not only between two countries, but between regions, economies, and people.
At the center of this transformation lies a larger idea, far from concrete infrastructure, steel, and pipelines: shared prosperity.
In a recent op-ed published on February 20, 2025, in the Daily Times, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong reflected on this evolving partnership. He emphasized the urgent need to elevate China-Pakistan relations, placing strategic cooperation, deeper CPEC advancement, enhanced security collaboration, and vibrant people-to-people exchanges as cornerstones of the future.
The Original Blueprint
CPEC was never just about infrastructure. It was designed to secure and shorten China’s energy route from the Middle East, using Pakistan as the pivotal link via the Arabian Sea. The development of Gwadar Port, connected by a robust network of roads and railways to Xinjiang, wasn’t just about transport—it was about transforming Pakistan’s economy from agricultural to industrial, from power-deficient to power-sufficient, and from isolated to integrated.
Over time, CPEC emerged as the most developed land corridor under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—a project many have likened to the post-WWII Marshall Plan in terms of potential economic impact.
Yet CPEC is more than a bilateral project. It is a framework for regional connectivity, envisioned to uplift not only China and Pakistan but also Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian Republics. Its roadmap includes enhanced road, rail, air, and digital systems; free movement of goods and people; shared academic and cultural exchanges; energy optimization; and a win-win cooperation model leading toward a region of shared destiny.
CPEC is Pakistan’s journey toward economic regionalization in a globalized world—a path grounded in peace, growth, and mutual benefit.
The Present Momentum
From Karakoram to Khunjerab, CPEC is carving out a new reality. A $6.8 billion revamp of the railway system and expansion of Gwadar Port are powering a new regional trade revolution. Economic modernization is surging ahead: $1B+ in agri-trade, digital infrastructure expansion, and Xinjiang’s green power fueling Pakistan’s energy mix.
CPEC is also shaping a modern economic ecosystem—one that includes AI-driven innovation, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and third-party investment in contract farming and exports.
Security, too, is at its core. With over 40,000 Chinese personnel involved in Pakistan, CPEC security cooperation is not just about safeguarding individuals but about securing Pakistan’s future. Thousands of Pakistani personnel are being trained, technology is being shared, and public spaces are being monitored to deter terrorist threats.
Beyond economic metrics, CPEC is improving lives. Over 1,000 Pakistanis have been trained through collaborative education and media programs. In Gwadar, 150,000 patients have been treated, and over 1,200 babies delivered in China-backed healthcare initiatives.
Agriculture is seeing dividends too: Pakistan posted a $237M agri-trade surplus, proving that CPEC isn’t just about construction—it’s about cultivation and export-led growth.
The Question of Balochistan
But for all its success, CPEC is facing hurdles—and nowhere are these more apparent than in Balochistan. The province, rich in natural resources and central to the CPEC vision, has long been mired in poverty, political neglect, and unrest. Despite being the largest province of Pakistan, it has often been left behind by those in power, who used development as a slogan rather than a strategy.
Yet, Balochistan remains resilient. Its people are resisting the narratives of division. They are demanding real progress—and making Pakistan proud across sectors, from security to sports.
CPEC offers renewed hope. In recent years, Balochistan has seen roads, hospitals, schools, and airports. The Gwadar Port, now a multi-purpose terminal with regular container shipping services, is symbolic of this change. The Gwadar East Bay Expressway, opened in June 2022, links Gwadar to Karachi, bringing the economic heartland closer than ever before.
Social projects are also blooming. In July 2024, 20,000 women’s health kits were donated under a philanthropic initiative. The Faqeer School, once a modest primary school, now serves over 1,000 students with modern facilities. The Pak-China Vocational Institute is training hundreds of local workers—many of whom may study in China in the future.
But challenges remain. Terrorist attacks, road blockades, and attacks on CPEC-linked infrastructure continue to disrupt development. These acts pushed us to think: Who does not want to see Balochistan thrive? Who benefits from fear, unrest, and underdevelopment?
A New Chapter with Afghanistan
In an unexpected but strategic shift, Afghanistan has now entered the CPEC narrative.
As a landlocked country, Afghanistan relies heavily on Pakistani ports for trade. After gaining an e-export trade license with Gwadar Port in 2019, Afghanistan imported 43,000 tons of fertilizer in 2020 alone—supporting its own agricultural ambitions.
Then, on May 9, 2023, during the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, Afghanistan formally announced its decision to join CPEC. This entry could reshape the country’s economic fate—opening access to South Asian markets, improving domestic infrastructure, and allowing tariff-free access to China in areas like construction and consumer goods.
It also repositions Afghanistan as a bridge, not a battleground—a potential center of trade rather than a casualty of geopolitics.
But again, stability is key. Violent border skirmishes and terror attacks continue to test Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. These are not isolated incidents; they represent a broader resistance to connectivity, development, and peace.
Now ask yourself: Who fears the prosperity that CPEC can bring? Why target projects that offer people water, electricity, jobs, and opportunity?
Also See: China, Pakistan Agree to “Upgrade” CPEC
The Road Ahead
CPEC is not just a corridor—it’s a canvas. It carries the hopes of millions, the vision of a connected region, and the promise of transformation. It has already shown how infrastructure can spark social change, how trade can build peace, and how nations—if aligned—can uplift each other.
As Pakistan, China, and now Afghanistan move forward with this monumental project, the challenges ahead are undeniable.
But the real choice lies before us: do we allow fear, political agendas, and violence to stall progress?
Or do we continue building—with resolve and cooperation—a future rooted in connectivity, stability, and shared prosperity?
PAYF Insights are social media threads by various authors, reproduced here for wider consumption.
