China–Pakistan Economic Corridor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

China–Pakistan Economic Corridor

Mission statementSecuring Energy Import and Trade Boost for China,[1]
Infrastructure Development for Pakistan[1]
Type of projectEconomic corridor
LocationPakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh & Azad Kashmir
China: Xinjiang
CountryChina
Pakistan
Established20 April 2015 (8 years ago) (2015-04-20)[2]
BudgetChina Development Bank
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Silk Road Fund
Exim Bank of China
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
StatusA few projects operational
Special Economic Zones Under construction (2020).[4][5]
Many projects running behind the schedule (2022)[6]
Few projects cancelled.[7]
Websitecpec.gov.pk

China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) (Chinese: 中巴经济走廊; pinyin: Zhōng bā jīngjì zǒuláng; Urdu: چین پاکستان اقتصادی راہداری) is a 3,000 km Chinese infrastructure network project in construction in Pakistan.[8] This sea-and-land-based corridor is aimed to secure and reduce the passage for China's energy imports[8] from the Middle East, by avoiding the existing route from the Straits of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia, which, in case of war could be blockaded, and thus hamper the Chinese energy-dependent economic avenues.[1][9][10] Developing a deep water port at Gwadar in the Arabian Sea and a well built road and rail line from this port to Xinjiang region in western China would be a shortcut for boosting the trade between Europe and China.[1][9] In Pakistan, it aims to overcome an electricity shortfall, infrastructural development and modernize transportation networks. Along with shifting it from an agricultural based economic structure to industrial based.[11]

CPEC's potential impact on Pakistan has been compared to that of the Marshall Plan, undertaken by the United States in post-war Europe.[12][13][14][15] Pakistani officials predict that CPEC will result in the creation of upwards of 2.3 million jobs between 2015 and 2030, and add 2 to 2.5 percentage points to the country's annual economic growth.[16] As of 2022, it has enhanced Pakistan's exports and development capacity and has provided 1/4th of its total electricity.[17]

It is also seen as addressing a national security issue for China by economic development of the Xinjiang region, thus reducing militant influence on Muslim separatists of native Uyghurs.[1][9][10][18] After the proposal from Chinese President Li Keqiang in 2013,[8] the preliminary study on this project was done in 2014, which acknowledged the hostile environment and complicated geographic conditions but prioritized the importance of having a China-run port near the Gulf of Oman which serves as an important route for oil tankers.[19] Once this corridor is functional, the existing 12,000 km journey of oil transportation to China will be reduced to just 2,395 km.[20] This is estimated to save China $2 billion per year.[21] China had already acquired control of Gwadar Port on 16 May 2013.[19] Originally valued at $46 billion, the value of CPEC projects was worth $62 billion as of 2020.[22] In 2022, the Chinese investment in Pakistan rose to $65 billion.[23] China refers to this project as the revival of the Silk Road.[24] CPEC envisages rapidly upgrading Pakistan's required infrastructure and thereby strengthening its economy to an extent by constructing modern transportation networks, numerous energy projects, and special economic zones.[25][26][27][28]

The potential industries being set up in the CPEC special economic zones include food processing, cooking oil, ceramics, gems and jewelry, marble, minerals, agriculture machinery, iron and steel, motorbike assembling, electrical appliances, and automobiles.[29]

Even though China and Pakistan signed the official MoUs in 2015, the first details of the long-term plan under CPEC were publicly disclosed in 2017 when a Pakistani media outlet revealed its access to the Original Documents.[30]

According to the World Bank researchers, "Chinese lenders require strict confidentiality from their debtors and do not release a granular breakdown of their lending."[31][32] In 2015, the Governor of Central Bank in Pakistan, Ashraf Mahmood Wathra said, "I don't know out of $46 billion, how much is debt, how much is equity and how much is in kind"[33] and did not know what the debt implications of CPEC actually were.[34]

Since the early 1990s, the IMF has provided more than a dozen bailouts on requests by Pakistan to save its dwindling economy, which has struggled for 22 of the 30 years to meet the austerity measures demanded by IMF. Nadeem-ul-Haque, a former IMF official and former deputy chairman of the Pakistani government's Planning Commission wrote, "The pattern is always the same, with the Fund's blessing, the government goes on a shopping spree, taking out costly loans for expensive projects, thus building up even more debt and adding new inefficiencies. After a few years, another crisis ensues, and it is met by another IMF program."[35] The Pakistani establishment sees Chinese loans as an alternative to IMF loans.[31] Should the initial $46 billion worth of projects be implemented, the value of those projects would be roughly equivalent to all foreign direct investment in Pakistan since 1970,[36] and would be equal to 17% of Pakistan's 2015 gross domestic product.[37] CPEC is seen as the main plank of China's Belt and Road Initiative.[38]

Chinese monetary offer for Pakistan under CPEC being a combination of Debt and Equity, it is evaluated that the Debt component will be serviced at 7–8% interest per annum while the equity component is expected to deliver an estimated ROE of 17% per annum. The Pakistan government, however, claims that the Chinese loans will be repaid over 20–25 years at a rate of 2% interest.[39] Pakistan has already started negotiating the debt-relief from China owing to difficulties to repay the loan and is seeking ease in the payment obligations towards debt and its interest for the projects under CPEC.[40] As of 2022, Pakistan owes China about $30 billion which accounts for nearly 30% of its foreign debt.[41]

Since 2021, due to the growing pressure on China for being the world's biggest polluter, it has shifted its focus from coal-based energy investments in Pakistan to renewables. This is done to promote a more "greener" image of CPEC.[42] In June 2022, the Karot Hydropower started commercial operations to provide cheap and clean electricity and aims to reduce 3.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually.[43]

History[edit]

Background[edit]

Plans for a corridor stretching from the Chinese border to Pakistan's deepwater ports on the Arabian Sea date back to the 1950s, and motivated construction of the Karakoram Highway beginning in 1959.[44] Chinese interest in Pakistan's deep-water harbor at Gwadar had been rekindled by in 2002 China began construction at Gwadar port which was completed in 2006. Expansion of Gwadar Port then ceased thereafter owing to political instability in Pakistan following the fall of General Pervez Musharraf and subsequent conflict between the Pakistani state and Taliban militants.[45]

In 2013, the then Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang decided to further enhance mutual connectivity.[46] A memorandum of understanding on cooperation for long-term plan on China–Pakistan Economic Corridor between the two governments was inked by Xu Shao Shi and Shahid Amjad Chaudhry.[47]

In February 2014, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain visited China to discuss the plans for an economic corridor in Pakistan.[48] Two months later, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with Premier Li Kequiang in China to discuss further plans,[49] resulting in the full scope of the project to be devised under Sharif's tenure.[50] In November 2014, the Chinese government announced its intention to finance Chinese companies as part of its $45.6 billion energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of CPEC.

Announcement of CPEC[edit]

Chinese President Xi Jinping on his “fate-changing visit” to Pakistan for signing the CPEC agreement stated “I feel as if I am going to visit the home of my brother,”[51] and claimed that friendship between the two nations was “higher than mountains, deeper than oceans and sweeter than honey”.[1] China repeatedly uses terms like "iron brothers" and "all weather friends" while describing its relation with Pakistan.[52] On 20 April 2015, Pakistan and China signed an agreement to commence work on the $46 billion agreement, which is roughly 20% of Pakistan's annual GDP,[53] with approximately $28 billion worth of fast-tracked "Early Harvest" projects to be developed by the end of 2018.[54][55]

A vast network of highways and railways are to be built under the aegis of CPEC that will span the length and breadth of Pakistan. Inefficiencies stemming from Pakistan's mostly dilapidated transportation network are estimated by the government to cause a loss of 3.55% of the country's annual GDP.[56] Modern transportation networks built under CPEC will link seaports in Gwadar and Karachi with northern Pakistan, as well as points further north in western China and Central Asia.[57] A 1,100-kilometre-long motorway will be built between the cities of Karachi and Lahore as part of CPEC,[58] while the Karakoram Highway from Hasan Abdal to the Chinese border will be completely reconstructed and overhauled.[36] The currently stalled Karachi–Peshawar main railway line will also be upgraded to allow for train travel at up to 160 km per hour by December 2019.[59][60] Pakistan's railway network will also be extended to eventually connect to China's Southern Xinjiang Railway in Kashgar.[61] The estimated $11 billion required to modernise transportation networks will be financed by subsidized concessionary loans.[62]

Over $33 billion worth of energy infrastructure are to be constructed by private consortia to help alleviate Pakistan's chronic energy shortages,[63] which regularly amount to over 4,500MW,[64] and have shed an estimated 2–2.5% off Pakistan's annual gross domestic product.[65] Over 10,400 MW of generating capacity is to be brought online by the end of 2018, with the majority developed as part of CPEC's fast-tracked "Early Harvest" projects.[66] A network of pipelines to transport liquefied natural gas and oil will also be laid as part of the project, including a $2.5 billion pipeline between Gwadar and Nawabshah to eventually transport gas from Iran.[67] Electricity from these projects will primarily be generated from fossil fuels, though hydroelectric and wind-power projects are also included, as is the construction of one of the world's largest solar farms.[68]

Should the initial $46 billion worth of projects be implemented, the value of those projects would be roughly equivalent to all foreign direct investment in Pakistan since 1970,[36] and would be equal to 17% of Pakistan's 2015 gross domestic product.[37] CPEC is seen as the main plank of China's Belt and Road Initiative.[38] At the beginning of this project, Pakistan has assigned about 10,000 troops to protect the Chinese investments.[10] However, this number increased to 15,000 actively deployed troops by 2016.

Subsequent developments[edit]

On 12 August 2015 in the city of Karamay, China and Pakistan signed 20 more agreements worth $1.6 billion to further augment the scale and scope of CPEC.[69] Details of the plan are opaque,[70] but are said to mainly focus on increasing energy generation capacity.[71][better source needed] As part of the agreement, Pakistan and China have agreed to co-operate in the field of space research.[72]

In September and October 2015, the government of the United Kingdom announced two separate grants to the Government of Pakistan for construction of roadways that are complementary to CPEC.[73][74] In November 2015, China included the CPEC into its 13th five-year development plan,[75] while in December 2015, China and Pakistan agreed on a further $1.5 billion investment to set up an information and technology park as part of the CPEC project.[76] On 8 April 2016, during the visit of Xinjiang's Communist Party chief Zhang Chunxian companies from Xinjiang with their Pakistan counterparts signed $2 billion of additional agreements covering infrastructure, solar power and logistics.[77]

The first convoy from China arrived in Gwadar on 13 November 2016, thereby formalizing operation of CPEC.[78] On 2 December 2016, the first cargo train, launching the direct rail route and sea freight service between China and Pakistan, departed from Yunnan. A cargo train loaded with 500 tonnes of commodities left Kunming for the port city of Guangzhou from where the cargo will be loaded on ships and transported to Karachi, marking the opening of the new route.[79] The new rail, sea freight will cut logistics cost, including that of transport, by 50 per cent.[80]

In November 2016, China announced an additional $8.5 billion investment in Pakistan with $4.5 billion allocated to upgrade Pakistan's main railway line from Karachi to Peshawar including tracks, speed, and signaling, and $4 billion toward an LNG terminal and transmission lines to help alleviate energy shortages.[81] In February 2017, the Egyptian Ambassador to Pakistan expressed interest in CPEC cooperation.[82] In January 2017, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stated that he had received assurances from Chinese investment companies that they would invest up to $20 billion for projects.[83] In March 2017, an agreement was signed for the projects, which include: a $1.5 billion oil refinery, irrigation projects worth $2 billion, a $2 billion motorway between Chitral and DI Khan, and $7 billion worth of hydro-electric projects.[84]

As of September 2017, more than $14 billion worth of projects were under construction.[38] In March 2018, Pakistan announced that following the completion of under-construction energy projects, future CPEC energy projects would be geared towards hydropower projects.[85]

In 2022, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof. Ahsan Iqbal criticized CPEC authority for its inability to attract investments and called for its dissolution.[86] On 17 August 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved, in principle, to abolish the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority subject to consent by China.[87]

Projects in Gwadar Port and City[edit]

A view of the Gwadar Promontory and isthmus

Gwadar came in the focus of attention post the Kargil War when Pakistan felt the need of having a military naval port and the Karachi-Gwadar Road (Coastal Highway) was built for defence purpose.[88] Gwadar forms the crux of the CPEC project, as it is envisaged to be the link between China's ambitious One Belt, One Road project, and its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road project.[89] In total, more than $1 billion worth of projects are to be developed around the port of Gwadar by December 2017.

As of 2022, only three China–Pakistan Economic Corridor projects – $4 million Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan, $300 million Physical Infrastructure of Gwadar Port and the Free Zone Phase-1, and a $10 million Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute – in Gwadar were declared completed whereas one-dozen projects worth nearly $2 billion remain undeveloped including water supply, electricity provision, expressway, international airport, fishing harbour and hospital among others.[90]

China has provided a total of 7,000 sets of solar panels for households in Gwadar over the past two years. Another 10,000 sets of solar panels are under active preparation and will be allocated to poor people in Balochistan. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan is also to donate household solar units and other assistance to the people of Balochistan.[17]

Gwadar Port Complex[edit]

Initial infrastructure works at Gwadar Port commenced in 2002 and were completed in 2007,[45] however plans to upgrade and expand Gwadar's port stalled. Under CPEC agreement, Gwadar Port will initially be expanded and upgraded to allow for docking of larger ships with deadweight tonnage of up to 70,000.[91] Improvement plans also include construction of a $130 million breakwater around the port,[92] as well as the construction of a floating liquefied natural gas facility that will have a capacity of 500 million cubic feet of liquefied natural gas per day and will be connected to the Gwadar-Nawabshah segment of the Iran–Pakistan gas pipeline.[93]

The expanded port is located near a 2,282-acre free trade area in Gwadar which is being modeled on the lines of the Special Economic Zones of China.[94] The swathe of land was handed to the China Overseas Port Holding Company in November 2015 as part of a 43-year lease.[95] The site will include manufacturing zones, logistics hubs, warehouses, and display centres.[96] Businesses located in the zone would be exempt from customs authorities as well as many provincial and federal taxes.[91] Business established in the special economic zone will be exempt from Pakistani income, sales, and federal excise taxes for 23 years.[97] Contractors and subcontractors associated with China Overseas Port Holding Company will be exempted from such taxes for 20 years,[98] while a 40-year tax holiday will be granted for imports of equipment, materials, plant/machinery, appliances, and accessories that are to be for construction of Gwadar Port and special economic zone.[99]

The special economic zone will be completed in three phases. By 2025, it is envisaged that manufacturing and processing industries will be developed, while further expansion of the zone is intended to be complete by 2030.[45] On 10 April 2016, Zhang Baozhong, chairman of China Overseas Port Holding Company said in a conversation with The Washington Post that his company planned to spend $4.5  billion on roads, power, hotels and other infrastructure for the industrial zone as well as other projects in Gwadar city.[16]

Projects in Gwadar city[edit]

China will grant Pakistan $230 million to construct a new international airport in Gwadar.[100] The provincial government of Balochistan has set aside 4000 acres for the construction of the new $230 million Gwadar International Airport which will require an estimated 30 months for construction,[101] the costs of which are to be fully funded by grants from the Chinese government which Pakistan will not be obliged to repay.[102]

The city of Gwadar is further being developed by the construction of a 300 MW coal power plant, a desalinization plant, and a new 300-bed hospital to be completed in 2023.[103] Plans for Gwadar city also include construction of the Gwadar East Bay Expressway – a 19 kilometre controlled-access road that will connect Gwadar Port to the Makran Coastal Highway.[104] These additional projects are estimated to cost $800 million, and are to be financed by 0% interest loans extended by the Exim Bank of China to Pakistan.[103]

In addition to the aforementioned infrastructure works, the Pakistani government announced in September 2015 its intention to establish a training institute named Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute at Gwadar,[45] which is to be developed by the Gwadar Port Authority at the cost of 943 million rupees,[45] and is designed to impart to residents the skills required to operate and work at the expanded Gwadar Port.[45]

As of 2017, in total there are 9 projects funded by China in and around Gwadar.[105]

Development of Gwadar includes the building of a hospital under a Chinese government grant. Under the proposed project medical blocks, nursing and paramedical institutes, medical college, central laboratory, and other allied facilities are to be constructed with the supply of medical equipment and machinery.[106]

In 2020, Government[which?] released funds of Rs 320 million for a Gwadar Seawater Desalination Plant at Gwadar, with a capacity of five million gallons a day. The funds were also to be used in the expansion of the optical fiber network in Gwadar[107] and construction of a fish landing jetty.[108]

Roadway projects[edit]

The CPEC roadway network

The CPEC project envisages major upgrades and overhauls to Pakistan's transportation infrastructure. Under the CPEC project, China has announced financing for $10.63  billion worth of transportation infrastructure so far; $6.1  billion have been allocated for constructing "Early Harvest" roadway projects at an interest rate of 1.6 percent.[109] The remainder of funds will be allocated when the Pakistani government awards contracts for the construction of road segments which are still in the planning phase.

Three corridors have been identified for cargo transport: the Eastern Alignment through the heavily populated provinces of Sindh and Punjab where most industries are located, the Western Alignment through the less developed and more sparsely populated provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and the future Central Alignment which will pass through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Balochistan.[110]

Karakoram Highway[edit]

Highlighted in red is the route of National Highway 35, which is to be completely rebuilt and upgraded under the CPEC agreement. Highlighted in blue is the 175-kilometer road between Gilgit and Skardu which is to be upgraded to a 4-lane highway.
China and Pakistan already conduct trade via the Karakoram Highway.

The CPEC projects call for reconstruction and upgrade works on National Highway 35 (N-35), which forms the Pakistani portion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH). The KKH spans the 887-kilometer long distance between the China-Pakistan border and the town of Burhan, near Hasan Abdal. At Burhan, the existing M1 motorway will intersect the N-35 at the Shah Maqsood Interchange. From there, access onwards to Islamabad and Lahore continues as part of the existing M1 and M2 motorways. Burhan will also be at the intersection of the Eastern Alignment, and Western Alignment.

Upgrades to the 487-kilometer long section between Burhan and Raikot of the Karakoram Highway are officially referred to in Pakistan as the Karakoram Highway Phase 2 project. At the southern end of the N-35, works are already underway to construct a 59-kilometer-long, 4-lane controlled-access highway between Burhan and Havelian which upon completion will be officially referred to as the E-35 expressway.[111] North of Havelian, the next 66 kilometres of road will be upgraded to a 4-lane dual carriageway between Havelian and Shinkiari.[112] Groundbreaking on this portion commenced in April 2016.[113]

The entire 354 kilometres of roadway north of Shinkiari and ending in Raikot, near Chilas will be constructed as a 2-lane highway.[113] Construction on the first section between Shinkiari and Thakot commenced in April 2016 jointly with construction of the Havelian to Shinkiari 4-lane dual carriageway further south.[114] Construction on both these sections is expected to be completed with 42 months at a cost of approximately $1.26 billion with 90% of funding to come from China's EXIM bank in the form of low interest rate concessional loans.[114][115][116]

Between Thakot and Raikot spans an area in which the government of Pakistan is currently either planning or actively constructing several hydropower projects, most notably the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Dasu Dam. Sections of the N-35 around these projects will be completely rebuilt in tandem with dam construction.[117] In the interim, this section of the N-35 is currently being upgraded from its current state until dam construction commences in full force at a later date. Improvement projects on this section are expected to be completed by January 2017 at a cost of approximately $72 million.[118][119] The next 335 kilometres of roadway connect Raikot to the China-Pakistan border. Reconstruction works on this section of roadway preceded the CPEC, and were initiated after severe damage to roadways in the area following the 2010 Pakistan floods. Most of this section of roadway was completed in September 2012 at a cost of $510 million.[120]

A large earthquake rocked the region nearest to the China-Pakistan border in 2010, triggering massive landslides that dammed the Indus River, resulting in the formation of the Attabad Lake. Portions of the Karakoram Highway were submerged in the lake, forcing all vehicular traffic onto barges to traverse the new reservoir. Construction on a 24 kilometer series of bridges and tunnels to Attabad Lake began in 2012 and required 36 months for completion. The bypass consists of 2 large bridges and 5 kilometres worth of tunnels that were inaugurated for public use on 14 September 2015 at a cost of $275 million.[121][122] The 175 kilometre road between Gilgit and Skardu will be upgraded to a 4-lane road at a cost of $475 million to provide direct access to Skardu from the N-35.[123][124]

Eastern Alignment[edit]

The term Eastern Alignment of CPEC refers to roadway projects located in Sindh and Punjab provinces – some of which were first envisioned in 1991.[125] As part of the Eastern Alignment, a 1,152 km long motorway will connect Pakistan's two largest cities, Karachi and Lahore with 6-lane controlled access highway designed for travel speeds up to 120 kilometres per hour.[126] The entire project will cost approximately $6.6 billion, with the bulk of financing to be distributed by various Chinese state-owned banks.[127]

The entire Eastern Alignment motorway project is divided into four sections: a 136-kilometer long section between Karachi and Hyderabad also known as the M9 motorway, a 345-kilometer long section between Hyderabad and Sukkur, a 392-kilometer long section between Sukkur, and Multan,[128] and a 333-kilometer section between Multan and Lahore via the town of Abdul Hakeem.[129]

Sukkur-Multan motorway is longest Motorway of Pakistan constructed under CPEC.

The first section of the project is providing high-speed road access from the Port of Karachi to the city of Hyderabad and interior Sindh. Upgrade and construction works on this section currently known as Super Highway between Karachi and Hyderabad began in March 2015, and will convert the road into the 6-lane controlled access M9 Motorway which was completed in an estimated 30 months.[130] In February 2017, a completed 75 kilometer stretch of the motorway was opened for public use by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.[131]

At the terminus of the M9 motorway in Hyderabad, the Karachi-Lahore Motorway will continue onwards to Sukkur as a six-lane controlled-access motorway known also as M6 motorway that will be 345 kilometers long,[128] The planned cost for this project is $1.7 billion,[132] and will provide high-speed road access to interior Sindh – especially near the towns of Matiari, Nawabshah, and Khairpur. The project will require the construction of seven interchanges, and 25 bridges on the Indus river and irrigation canals.[133] The planned route of the motorway runs roughly parallel to the existing National Highway and Indus Highway at various portions. In July 2016, the Pakistani government announced that the project would be open to international bidders on a build-operate-transfer basis, with Chinese and South Korean companies expressing interest in the project.[132]

The 392 kilometers Sukkur to Multan section of the motorway is estimated to cost $2.89  billion,[126] with construction works inaugurated on this section of roadway on 6 May 2016 and completed in September 2019.[134] The road will be a six lane wide controlled access highway,[135] with 11 planned interchanges, 10 rest facilities, 492 underpasses, and 54 bridges along its route.[134] The Pakistani government in January 2016 awarded the contract to build this section to China State Construction Engineering,[126] but final approvals required for disbursement of funds were not granted by the Government of the People's Republic of China until May 2016.[116][126] 90% of the project's cost is to be financed by concessionary loans from China, with the remaining 10% to be financed by the government of Pakistan.[136] Construction on this segment is expected to last 36 months.[126]

Construction of the portion between Multan and Lahore costing approximately $1.5 billion[137] was launched in November 2015[138] as a joint venture between the China Railway Construction Corporation Limited and Pakistan's Zahir Khan and Brothers Engineers.[139] The total length of this motorway section is 333 kilometres; however, the first 102 kilometres of the road between Khanewal and Abdul Hakeem is designed as part of the M4 Motorway, and is being funded by the Asian Development Bank.[140][141] The portion of motorway between Abdul Hakeem and Lahore that is under construction as part of CPEC will consist of the remaining 231 kilometers.[142]

Western Alignment[edit]

The Western Alignment of CPEC is depicted by the red line. The 1,153-kilometer route will link the Brahma Bahtar Interchange of the M1 Motorway with the city of Gwadar in Balochistan province. The portion depicted by the orange line between Basima and Shahdadkot is sometimes regarded as part of the Western Alignment.

The CPEC project envisages an expanded and upgraded road network in the Pakistani provinces of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and western Punjab Province as part of the Western Alignment. The Western Alignment project will result in the upgrading of several hundred kilometers worth of road into 2 and 4-lane divided highways by mid-2018, with land acquisition sufficient for upgrading parts of the road to a 6-lane motorway in the future.[143] In total, the CPEC project envisages reconstruction of 870 kilometers of road in Balochistan province alone as part of the Western Alignment. Of those 870 kilometers of road, 620 kilometers have already been rebuilt as of January 2016.[144]

The Western Alignment roadway network will begin at the Barahma Bahtar Interchange on the M1 Motorway near the towns of Burhan and Hasan Abdal in northern Punjab province.[145] The newly reconstructed Karakoram Highway will connect to the Western Alignment at Burhan, near where the new 285-kilometre-long controlled-access Brahma Bahtar-Yarik Motorway will commence.[146] The motorway will terminate near the town of Yarik, just north of Dera Ismail Khan.[147] Groundbreaking for the project took place on 17 May 2016 and was inaugurated on 5 January 2022.[148] The motorway traverses the Sindh Sagar Doab region, and cross the Indus River at Mianwali before entering into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It consists of 11 interchanges, 74 culverts, and 3 major bridges spanning the Indus, Soan, and Kurram Rivers.[149] Total costs for the project were approx. $1.05 billion.[150]

At the southern terminus of the new Brahma Bahtar-Yarik motorway, the N50 National Highway will also be upgraded between Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Zhob in neighbouring Balochistan province, with eventual reconstruction between Zhob and Quetta.[151] The upgraded roadway will consist of a 4 lane dual-carriageway spanning the 205 kilometre distance between the two cities.[152] The first portion of the N50 to be upgraded will be the 81 kilometre portion of the N50 between Zhob and Mughal Kot, with construction works having begun in January 2016.[153] Construction on this portion is expected to be completed by 2018 at a cost of $86 million.[151] While the project is considered a vital link in the CPEC's Western Alignment,[153] the project's cost will not be financed by Chinese state-owned banks, but instead by Asian Development Bank under a 2014 agreement which preceded CPEC,[154][155] as well as by a grant provided by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development.[156]

Heading south from Quetta, the Western Alignment of the CPEC will continue to the town of Surab in central Balochistan as the N25 National Highway. From Surab, a 470 kilometre long route known as the N85 National Highway will connect central Balochistan with the town of Hoshab in southwestern Balochistan province near the city of Turbat. The stretch of road between these cities was completed in December 2016,[157] as per schedule.[158]

Along the Western Alignment route, the towns of Hoshab and Gwadar are connected by a newly built 193-kilometer-long portion of the M8 Motorway – the Hoshab to Gwadar portion of the motorway was completed and inaugurated in February 2016 by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.[159] The Western Alignment will be flanked by special economic zones along its route,[160] with at least seven special economic zones planned to be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[143]

Central Alignment[edit]

Long-term plans for a "Central Alignment" of the CPEC consist of a network of roads which is shortest route of CPEC and will commence in Gwadar and travel upcountry via the cities of Basima, Khuzdar, Sukkur, Rajanpur, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Talagang with onward connections to Karakoram Highway via the Brahma Bahtar–Yarik Motorway.[161]

Associated roadway projects[edit]

ADB funded projects

The 184 kilometers long M-4 Motorway between Faisalabad and Multan does not fall under the scope of CPEC projects but is nevertheless considered vital to the CPEC transportation project. It will instead be financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,[140] and will be the first project jointly financed by those banks.[162] Further funding comes from an additional $90.7  million grant announced in October 2015 by the government of the United Kingdom towards the construction of a portion of the M4 Motorway project.[163]

The Karakoram Highway south of the city of Mansehra will also be upgraded into a controlled-access highway to officially be known as the E-35 expressway. While it is considered to be a crucial part of the route between Gwadar and China, the E35 will not be financed by CPEC funds. The project will instead be financed by the Asian Development Bank[164] with a $121.6 million grant from the United Kingdom towards the project.[165] Once completed, the E35 Expressway, the M4 Motorway, and Karachi-Lahore Motorway will provide continuous high-speed road travel on controlled-access motorways from Mansehra to Karachi – 1,550 kilometers away.

Hazara Motorway considered to be vital link for the Western alignment CPEC.

Approximately halfway between Zhob and Quetta, the town of Qilla Saifullah in Balochistan lies at the intersection of the N50 National Highway and the N70 National Highway. The two roads form the 447-kilometer route between Quetta and Multan in southern Punjab. While the N70 project is not officially a part of CPEC, it will connect the CPEC's Western Alignment to the Karachi-Lahore Motorway at Multan. Reconstruction works on the 126 kilometre portion of the N70 between Qilla Saifullah and Wagum are slated for completion by 2018,[166] and are financed as part of a $195 million package by the Asian Development Bank,[155] and by a $72.4 million grant from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development.[156]

Railway projects[edit]

Phase 1 of the ML-1 overhaul and reconstruction is highlighted black between Peshawar and Lahore. Overhauling and reconstruction of the line will allow trains to travel at up to 160 kilometres per hour.
Phase 2 of the ML-1 overhaul between Multan and Hyderabad is marked in orange. Phase 3 of the project is indicated by the green line between Hyderabad and Karachi.

The CPEC project emphasises major upgrades to Pakistan's aging railway system, including rebuilding of the entire Main Line 1 railway between Karachi and Peshawar by 2020;[167] this single railway currently handles 70% of Pakistan Railways traffic.[168] As of 25.05.2022 this project is in doldrums due to reluctance of China to provide funds.[169] In addition to the stalled Main Line 1 railway, upgrades and expansions are slated for the Main Line 2 railway, Main Line 3 railway. The CPEC plan also calls for completion of a rail link over the 4,693-meter high Khunjerab Pass. The railway will provide direct access for Chinese and East Asian goods to Pakistani seaports at Karachi and Gwadar by 2030.[168]

Procurement of an initial 250 new passenger coaches, and reconstruction of 21 train stations are also planned as part of the first phase of the project – bringing the total investment in Pakistan's railway system to approximately $5  billion by the end of 2019.[170] 180 of the coaches are to be built at the Pakistan Railways Carriage Factory near Islamabad,[171] while the Government of Pakistan intends to procure an additional 800 coaches at a later date, with the intention of building 595 of those coaches in Pakistan.[171]

In September 2018, the new government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan reduced the Chinese investment in railways by $2 billion to $6.2 billion because of financing burdens.[172]

Main Line 1[edit]

The CPEC "Early Harvest" plan includes[citation needed] a complete overhaul of the 1,687 kilometre long Main Line 1 railway (ML-1) between Karachi and Peshawar. The plan was initial floated in 2015,[173] however as of January 2023 construction has not started on the project, with funding only secured in November 2022.[174] The total costs of the project are estimated to be US$8.2 billion.[175]

The upgrade plan involves doubling the track from Karachi to Peshawar, providing grade separation, as well as communications-based train control;[176] this will allow increased capacity and faster trains on the line.[177]

Main Line 2[edit]

ML-2 of Pakistan Railways is marked in purple, while ML-3 is marked in orange. Other lines are in blue.

In addition to upgrading the ML-1, the CPEC project also calls for similar major upgrade on the 1,254 kilometre long Main Line 2 (ML-2) railway between Kotri in Sindh province, and Attock in northern Punjab province via the cities of Larkana and Dera Ghazi Khan.[178] The route towards northern Pakistan roughly parallels the Indus River, as opposed to the ML-1 which takes a more eastward course towards Lahore. The project also includes a plan to connect Gwadar, to the town of Jacobabad, Sindh[179] which lies at the intersection of the ML-2 and ML-3 railways.

Main Line 3[edit]

Medium term plans for the Main Line 3 (ML-3) railway line will also include construction of a 560 kilometer long railway line between Bostan near Quetta, to Kotla Jam in Bhakkar District near the city of Dera Ismail Khan,[180] which will provide access to southern Afghanistan. The railway route will pass through the city of Quetta and Zhob before terminating in Kotla Jam, and is expected to be constructed by 2025.[168]

Khunjerab Railway[edit]

The proposed route of the Khunjerab Railway is indicated by the brown line.

Longer-term projects under CPEC also call for construction of the 682 kilometre long Khunjerab Railway line between the city of Havelian, to the Khunjerab Pass on the Chinese border,[180] with extension to China's Lanxin Railway in Kashgar, Xinjiang. The railway will roughly parallel the Karakoram Highway, and is expected to be complete in 2030.[168]

The cost of the entire project is estimated to be approximately $12 billion, and will require 5 years for completion. A 300 million rupee study to establish final feasibility of constructing the rail line between Havelian and the Chinese border is already underway.[181] A preliminary feasibility study was completed in 2008 by the Austrian engineering firm TBAC.[182]

Lahore Metro[edit]

The $1.6 billion Orange Line of the Lahore Metro is regarded as a commercial project under CPEC.[183] Construction on the line has already begun, with initial planned completion by Winter 2017 however this has been delayed several times, first to end of 2018,[184][185] later to 2019 and 2020. It finally launched on 25 October 2020.[186] The line will be 27.1-kilometre (16.8 mi) long, of which 25.4 kilometres (15.8 mi) will be elevated, with the remaining portion to be underground between Jain Mandir and Lakshmi Chowk.[187] When complete, the project will have the capacity to transport 250,000 commuters per day, with plans to increase capacity to 500,000 commuters per day by 2025.[188]

Energy sector projects[edit]

Pakistan's current energy generating capacity is 24,830 MW.[189] Energy generation will be a major focus of the CPEC project, with approximately $33 billion expected to be invested in this sector.[63] An estimated 10,400 MW of electricity are slated for generation by March 2018 as part of CPEC's "Early Harvest" projects.[66]

The energy projects under CPEC will be constructed by private Independent Power Producers, rather than by the governments of either China or Pakistan.[190] The Exim Bank of China will finance these private investments at 5–6% interest rates, while the government of Pakistan will be contractually obliged to purchase electricity from those firms at pre-negotiated rates.[191] In April 2020, hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan asked China to ease repayment terms on $30bn worth of power projects.[192][193]

Renewable-energy[edit]

In March 2018, Pakistan announced that hydropower projects would be prioritized following the completion of under-construction power plants.[85] Pakistan aims to produce 25% of its electricity requirements by renewable energy resources by 2030.[194] China's Zonergy company will complete construction on the world's largest solar power plant – the 6,500 acre Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park near the city of Bahawalpur with an estimated capacity of 1000 MW is expected to be completed in December 2016.[195][196] The first phase of the project has been completed by Xinjiang SunOasis, and has a generating capacity of 100 MW.[197] The remaining 900 MW capacity will be installed by Zonergy under CPEC.[197]

The Jhimpir Wind Power Plant, built by the Turkish company Zorlu Enerji has already begun to sell 56.4 MW of electricity to the government of Pakistan,[198] though under CPEC, another 250 MW of electricity are to be produced by the Chinese-Pakistan consortium United Energy Pakistan and others at a cost of $659 million.[199][200] Another wind farm, the Dawood wind power project is under development by HydroChina at a cost of $115 million, and will generate 50 MW of electricity by August 2016.[201]

SK Hydro Consortium is constructing the 870 MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project in the Kaghan Valley of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province at a cost of $1.8 billion,[202] SK Hydro will construct the project with financing by China's EXIM bank.[203] The $1.5 billion Azad Pattan Hydropower project, being developed on River Jhelum, is sponsored by CGGC. With a generation capacity of 700.7 MW, the project will have the lowest generation tariff out of five proposed projects on the River Jhelum Cascade.[204]

The $1.6 billion 720 MW Karot Dam which is under construction is part of the CPEC plan, but is to be financed separately by China's Silk Road Fund.[205]

Pakistan and China have also discussed the inclusion of the 4,500 MW $14 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam as part of the CPEC project,[206] though as of December 2015, no firm decision has been made – though Pakistani officials remain optimistic at its eventual inclusion.[207] On 14 November 2017, Pakistan dropped its bid to have Diamer-Bhasha Dam financed under the CPEC framework.[208]

The $2.4 billion, 1,100 MW Kohala Hydropower Project being constructed by China's Three Gorges Corporation predates the announcement of CPEC, though funding for the project will now come from CPEC fund.[209] The project was approved by the government of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, the Chinese government and the Three Gorges corporation in 2020,[210] the move was protested by India, which claims Kashmir as its territory.[211] Renewable energy projects also include a 640 MW Mahl hydro power project.[212]

Coal[edit]

Despite several renewable energy projects, the bulk of new energy generation capacity under CPEC will be coal-based plants, with $5.8 billion worth of coal power projects expected to be completed by early 2019 as part of the CPEC's "Early Harvest" projects.

On 26 May, it was unveiled that transmission line of 660 KV would be laid between matiari and Lahore. The electricity would be produced from coal-based power plants at Thar, Port Qasim and Hub. It would have the capacity to supply 2000MW with 10 percent overloaded capability for 2 hours.[213]

Balochistan

In Balochistan province, a $970 million coal power plant at Hub, near Karachi, with a capacity of 660 MW to be built by a joint consortium of China's China Power Investment Corporation and the Pakistani firm Hub Power Company as part of a larger $2 billion project to produce 1,320 MW from coal.[214]

A 300 MW coal power plant is also being developed in the city of Gwadar, and is being financed by a 0% interest loan.[103] Development of Gwadar also include a 132 KV(AIS) Grid Station along with associated D/C Transmission line at Down Town, Gwadar along with other 132 KV Sub Stations at Deep Sea Port Gwadar.[215]

Punjab

The $1.8 billion Sahiwal Coal Power Project, in full operation since 3 July 2017,[216] is a project in central Punjab that has a capacity of 1,320 MW. It was built by a joint venture of two Chinese firms: the Huaneng Shandong company and Shandong Ruyi, who will jointly own and operate the plant.[217] Pakistan will purchase electricity from the consortium at a tariff of 8.36 US cents/kWh.[218]

The $589 million project to establish a coal mine and a relatively small 300 MW coal power plant to be built in the town of Pind Dadan Khan by China Machinery Engineering Corporation in Punjab's Salt Range.[219] Pakistan's NEPRA has been criticized for considering a relatively high tariff of 11.57 US cents/kWH proposed by the Chinese firm,[220] which had been initially agreed at 8.25 US cents/kWH in 2014.[221] The Chinese firm argued that coal transportation costs had greatly increased due to the nonavailability of coal from nearby mines which had initially been regarded as the primary coal source for the project. The company argued that coal would instead have to be transported from distant Sindh province, which along with inefficiencies in mining procedures, increased the cost of fuel by 30.5%.[222]

Sindh

The Shanghai Electric company of China will construct two 660 MW power plants as part of the "Thar-I" project in the Thar coalfield of Sindh province, while "Thar-ll" will be developed by a separate consortium.[223][224] The facility will be powered by locally sourced coal,[225] and is expected to be put into commercial use in 2018.[226] Pakistan's National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has agreed to purchase electricity from both Thar-l and Thar-ll at a tariff of 8.50 US cents/kWh for the first 330 MW of electricity, 8.33 US cents/kWh for the next 660 MW, and 7.99 US cents/kWh for the next 1,099 MW as further phases are developed.[227][228]

Near the Thar-I Project, the China Machinery Engineering Corporation in conjunction with Pakistan's Engro Corporation will construct two 330 MW power plants as part of the "Thar-ll Project" (having initially proposed the simultaneous construction of two 660 MW power plants) as well as developing a coal mine capable of producing up to 3.8 million tons of coal per year as part of the first phase of the project."[229][better source needed] The first phase is expected to be complete by early 2019,[230] at a cost of $1.95 billion.[231] Subsequent phases will eventually generate an additional 3,960 MW of electricity over the course of ten years.[224] As part of infrastructure required for electricity distribution from the Thar l and ll Projects, the $2.1 billion Matiari to Lahore Transmission Line, and $1.5 billion in Matiari to Faisalabad transmission line are also to be built as part of the CPEC project.[66]

The 1,320 MW $2.08 billion Pakistan Port Qasim Power Project near Port Qasim will be a joint venture of Al-Mirqab Capital from Qatar, and China's Power Construction Corporation – a subsidiary of Sinohydro Resources Limited.[232][233] Pakistan's NEPRA and SinoHydro agreed to set the levelized tariff for electricity purchased from the consortium at 8.12 US cents/kWh.[234] The first 660 MW reactor was commissioned in November 2017.[235]

Liquified natural gas[edit]

Liquefied natural gas power LNG projects are also considered vital to CPEC. The Chinese government has announced its intention to build a $2.5 billion 711 kilometre gas pipeline from Gwadar to Nawabshah in province as part of CPEC.[236] The pipeline is designed to be a part of the 2,775 kilometre long Iran–Pakistan gas pipeline, with the 80 kilometre portion between Gwadar and the Iranian border to be connected when sanctions against Tehran are eased; Iran has already completed a 900 kilometre long portion of the pipeline on its side of the border.[67]

The Pakistani portion of the pipeline is to be constructed by the state-owned China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau.[237] It will be 42 inches (1.1 metres) in diameter, and have the capacity to transport 1×109 cubic feet (2.8×107 m3) of liquified natural gas every day, with an additional 500×106 cubic feet (1.4×107 m3) of additional capacity when the planned off-shore LNG terminal is also completed.[238] The project will not only provide gas exporters with access to the Pakistani market, but will also allow China to secure a route for its own imports.[239]

The project should not be confused with the $2 billion 1,100 kilometre North-South Pipeline liquified natural gas pipeline which is to be constructed with Russian assistance between Karachi and Lahore with anticipated completion by 2018.[240] Nor should it be confused with the planned $7.5 billion TAPI Pipeline which is a planned project involving Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

Other LNG projects are currently under construction with Chinese assistance and financing that will augment the scope of CPEC, but are neither funded by nor officially considered a part of CPEC. The 1,223 MW Balloki Power Plant is currently under construction near Kasur, and is being constructed by China's Harbin Electric Company with financing from the China's EXIM bank, is one such example. In October 2015, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also inaugurated construction of the 1,180 MW Bhikhi Power Plant near Sheikhupura,[241] which is to be jointly constructed by China's Harbin Electric Company and General Electric from the United States.[242] It is expected to be Pakistan's most efficient power plant, and will provide enough power for an estimated 6 million homes.[242] The facility became operational in May 2018.[243]

"Early Harvest" projects[edit]

As part of the "Early Harvest" scheme of the CPEC, over 10,000 megawatts of electricity-generating capacity is to be developed between 2018 and 2020.[66] While some "Early Harvest" projects will not be completed until 2020, the government of Pakistan plans to add approximately 10,000 MW of energy-generating capacity to Pakistan's electric grid by 2018 through the completion of projects which complement CPEC.

Although not officially under the scope of CPEC, the 1,223 MW Balloki Power Plant, and the 1,180 MW Bhakki powerplants have both been completed in mid-2018,[243][244][241][245] which along with the 969 MW Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Plant completed in summer 2018 and 1,410 MW Tarbela IV Extension Project, competed in February 2018,[246] will result in an additional 10,000 MW being added to Pakistan's electricity grid by the end of 2018 with a combination of CPEC and non-CPEC projects.[247] A further 1,000 MW of electricity will be imported to Pakistan from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as part of the CASA-1000 project, which is expected to be launched in 2018.[248]

Table of projects[edit]

"Early Harvest" Energy Project[249] Capacity Location Status
Pakistan Port Qasim Power Project. 1,320 MW (2 x 660 MW plants) Sindh Operational
Thar-l Project 1,320 MW (4 x 330 MW plants) Sindh Operational
Thar-ll Project and coal mine 1,320 MW (2 x 660 MW plants) Sindh Operational
Sahiwal Coal Power Project 1,320 MW (2 x 660 MW plants) Punjab Operational
Rahimyar Khan coal power project 1,320 MW (2 x 660 MW plants) Punjab Operational
Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park 1,000 MW Punjab Operational
Suki Kinari Hydropower Project 870 MW (expected completion in 2020)[250] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Operational
Karot Hydropower Project 720 MW (expected completion in 2021)[251][252] Punjab Operational
China Power Hub Generation Company 2X660 MW Balochistan Operational
Thar Engro Coal Power Project 660 MW (2 x 330 MW plants) Sindh Operational
Gwadar coal power project 300 MW Balochistan Operational
UEP Windfarm 100 MW Sindh Operational
Dawood wind power project 50 MW Sindh Operational
Sachal Windfarm 50 MW Sindh Operational
Sunnec Windfarm 50 MW Sindh Operational
Matiari to Lahore Transmission Line 660 kilovolt Sindh and Punjab Operational

Other areas of cooperation[edit]

The CPEC announcement encompassed not only infrastructure works, but also addressed areas of co-operation between China and Pakistan.

Agriculture and aquaculture[edit]

CPEC includes provisions for cooperation in management of water resources, livestock, and other fields of agriculture. Under the plan, agricultural information project, storage and distribution of agricultural equipment and construction project, agricultural mechanisation, demonstration and machinery leasing project and fertiliser production project for producing 800,000 tons of fertiliser and 100,000 tons of bio-organic fertiliser will be implemented.[253][254] The framework includes cooperation in Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS), food processing, pre-and-post-harvest handling and storage of agricultural produce, selection and breeding of new breeds of animals and new varieties of plants, specifically fisheries and aquaculture.[255]

Science and technology[edit]

As part of CPEC, the two countries signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement,[256] as well as pledged to "China-Pakistan Joint Cotton Bio-Tech Laboratory."[256] The two countries also pledged to establish the "China-Pakistan Joint Marine Research Center" with State Oceanic Administration and Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology.[256] Also as part of the CPEC agreement, Pakistan and China have agreed to co-operate in the field of space research.[72]

In February 2016, the two countries agreed to establish the "Pak-China Science, Technology, Commerce and Logistic Park" near Islamabad at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion.[257] The park will be situated on 500 hectares, which will be provided by Pakistan to China's Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, with all investments expected to come from the Chinese side over the course of ten years.[257]

In May 2016, construction began on the $44 million 820 kilometer long Pakistan-China Fiber Optic Project, a Cross Border Optical Fiber Cable that will enhance telecommunication and ICT Industry in the Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab region, while offering Pakistan a fifth route by which to transmit telecommunication traffic.[258][259] which will be extended to Gwadar.[260][261][107]

In May 2019, Vice President of China and Pakistan has decided to launch Huawei Technical Support Center in Pakistan.[213]

CPEC include establishment of pilot project of Digital Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcast for Pakistan Television Corporation through Chinese grant at Rebroadcast Station (RBS) at Murree.[262] ZTE Corporation will provide Pakistan Television Corporation collaboration across R&D of digital terrestrial television technologies, staff training and content creation including partnerships with Chinese multinational companies in multiple areas including television sets and set top boxes as international Cooperation.[263]

Other fields[edit]

The two nations also pledged co-operation in field ranging from anti-narcotic efforts,[256] to co-operation in an effort to reduce climate change.[256] The two nations also agreed to increase co-operating between the banking sectors of the two countries, as well as to establish closer ties between China Central Television and the Pakistan Television Corporation.[256]

Confucius Institute at University of Punjab is planned to be soon launched in 2019.[213] Moreover, Rashakai Special Economic Zone on M1 Highway a motorway junction near Nowshehra is planned as well.[213]

Finance[edit]

Concessionary loans[edit]

Approximately $11 billion worth of infrastructure projects being developed by the Pakistani government will be financed at an interest rate of 1.6%,[92] after Pakistan successfully lobbied the Chinese government to reduce interest rates from an initial 3%.[264] Loans will be dispersed by the Exim Bank of China, China Development Bank, and the ICBC.[265] For comparison, loans for previous Pakistani infrastructure projects financed by the World Bank carried an interest rate between 5% and 8.5%,[266] while interest rates on market loans approach 12%.[267]

The loan money would be used to finance projects which are planned and executed by the Pakistani government. Portions of the approximately $6.6 billion[127] Karachi–Lahore Motorway are already under construction.[268] The $2.9 billion phase which will connect the city of Multan to the city of Sukkur over a distance of 392 kilometres has also been approved,[269] with 90% of costs to be financed by the Chinese government at concessionary interest rates, while the remaining 10% is to be financed by the Public Sector Development Programme of the Pakistani government.[270] In May 2016, the $2.9 billion loan were given final approvals required prior to disbursement of the funds were given by the Government of the People's Republic of China on 4 May 2016, and will be concessionary loans with an interest rate of 2.0%.[116] The National Highway Authority of Pakistan reported that contractors arrived on site soon after the loan received final approval.[116]

The China Development Bank will finance the $920 million towards the cost of reconstruction of the 487 kilometer portion of the Karakoram Highway between Burhan and Raikot.[271][272] An addition $1.26 billion will be lent by the China Exim Bank for the construction of the Havelian to Thakot portion of this 487 kilometer stretch of roadway,[114][115] to be dispersed as low-interest rate concessionary loans.[116]

$7 billion of the planned $8.2 billion overhaul of the Main Line 1 railway is to be financed by concessionary loans, which extended by China's state owned banks.[273]

The long-planned 27.1 km long $1.6 billion Orange Line of the Lahore Metro is regarded as a commercial project,[256] and does not qualify for the Exim Bank's 1.6% interest rate. It will instead by financed at a 2.4% interest rate[184] after China agreed to reduce interest rates from an originally planned rate of 3.4%.[274]

The $44 million Pakistan-China Fiber Optic Project, an 820 km long fibre optic wire connecting Pakistan and China, will be constructed using concessionary loans at an interest rate of 2%, rather than the 1.6% rate applied to other projects.[275]

Interest-free loans[edit]

The government of China in August 2015 announced that concessionary loans for several projects in Gwadar totaling $757 million would be converted 0% interest loans.[92] The projects which are now to financed by the 0% interest loans include: the construction of the $140 million East Bay Expressway project, installation of breakwaters in Gwadar which will cost $130 million, a $360 million coal power plant in Gwadar, a $27 million project to dredge berths in Gwadar harbor, and a $100 million 300-bed hospital in Gwadar.[92] Thus, Pakistan only has to repay the principal on these loans.

In September 2015, the government of China also announced that the $230 million Gwadar International Airport project would no longer be financed by loans, but would instead be constructed by grants which the government of Pakistan will not be required to repay.[264]

Private consortia[edit]

$15.5 billion worth of energy projects are to be constructed by joint Chinese-Pakistani firms, rather than by the governments of either China or Pakistan. The Exim Bank of China will finance those investments at 5–6% interest rates, while the government of Pakistan will be contractually obliged to purchase electricity from those firms at pre-negotiated rates.[191]

As an example, the 1,223 MW Balloki Power Plant does not fall under the concessionary loan rate of 1.6%, as the project is not being developed by the Pakistani government. Instead, it is considered to be a private sector investment as its construction will be undertaken by a consortium of Harbin Electric and Habib Rafiq Limited after they successfully bid against international competitors.[276] Chinese state-owned banks will provide loans to the consortium that are subsidised by the Chinese government. In the case of the Balloki Power Plant, state-owned banks will finance the project at an interest rate of 5%,[277] while the Pakistani government will purchase electricity at the lowest bid rate of 7.973 cents per unit.[276]

ADB assistance[edit]

While the Hazara Motorway is considered to be a crucial part of the route between Gwadar and China. M-15 will not be financed by CPEC funds. The project will instead be financed by the Asian Development Bank.[164]

The N70 project is not officially a part of CPEC but will connect the CPEC's Western Alignment to the Karachi-Lahore Motorway at Multan. The project will be financed as part of a $195 million package by the Asian Development Bank announced in May 2015 to upgrade the N70 National Highway and N50 National Highway.[155] In January 2016, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development announced a $72.4 million grant to Pakistan for roadway improvements in the province of Balochistan, thereby reducing the total Asian Development Bank loan from $195 million to $122.6 million.[156]

The M-4 Motorway between Faisalabad and Multan is not to be financed by the Chinese government as part of CPEC, but will instead be the first infrastructure project partially financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and will be co-financed along with the Asian Development Bank for a total of approximately $275 million.[140] Portions of the project will also be funded by a $90.7 million grant announced in October 2015 by the government of the United Kingdom towards the construction of the Gojra-Shorkot section of the M4 Motorway project.[163]

Impact[edit]

The importance of CPEC to China is reflected by its inclusion as part of China's 13th five-year development plan.[278][279] CPEC projects will provide China with an alternate route for energy supplies, as well as a new route by which Western China can conduct trade. Pakistan stands to gain due to upgrade of infrastructure and introduction of a reliable energy supply.[280][281]

On 8 January 2017, Forbes claimed that CPEC is part of China's vision to write the rules of the next era of globalization and help its export and investment engines run for years to come.[282] Writing in January 2017, Arun Mohan Sukumar of India's Observer Research Foundation claimed that "CPEC is an important enough project whose economic and strategic consequences require methodical assessment", adding that "CPEC may be a bilateral endeavour, but New Delhi cannot ignore its spillover effects on regional governance" and concluding that "India would be ill-advised to rely on the false comfort that profits alone will drive China's business with Pakistan".[283]

According to China's prime minister, Li Keqiang, Pakistan's development through the project might "wean the populace from fundamentalism".[38]

Environment[edit]

Pakistan is already distressed by climate change and global warming issues as about 5,000 its glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. It is affected by extreme weather patterns and seasonal shifts occurring in recent past.[284] The CPEC coal based power plants are not in line with Pakistan's own green policy. It is estimated that by the year 2030, the carbon dioxide emissions from CPEC projects will total 371 metric tonnes. 56% of this will be contributed by energy sector. CPEC expects a daily commute of 7000 trucks which can potentially emit 36.5 million tons of CO2.[285]

Since 2021, due to growing pressure on China for being the world's biggest polluter, it has since shifted its focus from coal based energy investments in Pakistan to renewables. This is being done in a bid to promote a more "greener" image of CPEC.[286]

Pakistani economy[edit]

The CPEC is considered a landmark project[287] in the annals of history of Pakistan. It is the largest investment Pakistan has attracted since independence and largest by China in any foreign country.[288] CPEC is considered economically vital to Pakistan in helping it drive economic growth.[289] The Pakistani media and government have called CPEC investments a "game and fate changer" for the region,[290][291] while both China and Pakistan intend that the massive investment plan will transform Pakistan into a regional economic hub and further boost the deepening ties between the two countries.[292] Approximately 1 year after the announcement of CPEC, Zhang Baozhong, chairman of China Overseas Port Holding Company told The Washington Post that his company planned to spend an additional $4.5 billion on roads, power, hotels and other infrastructure for Gwadar's industrial zone,[16] which would be one of the largest ever sums of foreign direct investment into Pakistan.

Pakistan as late as early 2017 faced energy shortfalls of over 4,500 MW on a regular basis[64] with routine power cuts of up to 12 hours per day,[65] which has shed an estimated 2–2.5% off its annual GDP.[65] The Financial Times noted that Pakistan's electricity shortages are a major hindrance to foreign investment, and that Chinese investments in Pakistani infrastructure and power projects will lead to a "virtuous cycle" that will make the country more attractive for foreign investment in a variety of sectors.[293] Poor availability of electricity is considered by the World Bank to be a main constraint to both economic growth and investment in Pakistan.

The impact of Chinese investments in Energy sector was soon visible as in December 2017, Pakistan succeeded in producing surplus electricity. Pakistani Federal Minister for Power Division, Awais Leghari announced a complete end to power cuts in 5,297 feeders out of total 8,600 and claimed that the country's current electricity production had gone up to 16,477 Megawatts which was 2700 megawatts more than the demand.[294]

Pakistan's large textile industry has also been negatively affected by several-hour long power cuts, with almost 20% of textile factories in the city of Faisalabad shutting down on account of power shortages.[295] The CPEC's "Early Harvest" projects are expected to resolve shortages in power generation by 2018 by increasing Pakistan's power generation capacity by over 10,000 megawatts.[66] As a result of improved infrastructure and energy supplies, the Pakistani government expects that economic growth rates will reach 7% by 2018.[296]

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also stated in May 2016 that predicted economic growth from CPEC projects would result in stabilization of Pakistan's security situation,[297] which has also been cited by the World Bank as hindrance to sustained economic growth in Pakistan.[298]

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying, the corridor will "serve as a driver for connectivity between South Asia and East Asia." Mushahid Hussain, chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, told China Daily that the economic corridor "will play a crucial role in regional integration of the 'Greater South Asia', which includes China, Iran, Afghanistan, and stretches all the way to Myanmar."[48] When fully built, the corridor is expected to generate significant revenue from transit fees levied on Chinese goods – to the tune of several billion dollars per annum.[299] According to The Guardian, "The Chinese are not just offering to build much-needed infrastructure but also make Pakistan a key partner in its grand economic and strategic ambitions."[300]

Moody's Investors Service has described the project as a "credit positive" for Pakistan. In 2015, the agency acknowledged that much of the project's key benefits would not materialize until 2017, but stated that it believes at least some of the benefits from the economic corridor would likely begin accruing even before then.[301] The Asian Development Bank stated "CPEC will connect economic agents along a defined geography. It will provide connection between economic nodes or hubs, centered on urban landscapes, in which large amount of economic resources and actors are concentrated. They link the supply and demand sides of markets."[302] On 14 November 2016, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced plan's to open four properties in Pakistan, in partnership with Bahria Town Group, citing the investment of CPEC as the reason behind the $600 million investment.[303]

On 12 March 2017, a consortium of Pakistani broker houses reported that Pakistan will end up paying $90 billion to China over a span of 30 years with annual average repayments of $3–4 billion per year post fiscal year 2020. The report further said that CPEC-related transportation would earn $400–500 million per annum to Pakistan, and would grow Pakistani exports by 4.5% a year till fiscal year 2025.[304]

CPEC and the "Malacca Dilemma"[edit]

Map showing territorial claims in South China Sea. A high percentage of Chinese energy imports pass through this disputed region, rendering much of China's energy imports vulnerable to conflict.

The Straits of Malacca provide China with its shortest maritime access to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.[305] Approximately 80% of its Middle Eastern energy imports also pass through the Straits of Malacca.[306] As the world's biggest oil importer,[53] energy security is a key concern for China while current sea routes used to import Middle Eastern oil are frequently patrolled by the United States' Navy.[307]

In the event that China were to face hostile actions from a United States[who?], energy imports through the Straits of Malacca could be impeded, which in turn may jeopardise the Chinese economy in a scenario that is frequently referred to as the "Malacca Dilemma".[306] In addition to vulnerabilities faced in the Straits of Malacca region, China is heavily dependent upon sea-routes that pass through the South China Sea, near the disputed Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands, which are currently a source of tension between China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the United States.[308] The CPEC project will allow Chinese energy imports to circumvent these contentious areas and find a new artery in the west, and thereby decrease the possibility of confrontation between the United States and China.[309] However, there is evidence to suggest that any pipelines from Gwadar up to China would be very expensive, would encounter numerous logistical difficulties including difficult terrain and potential terrorism, and would barely make any impact on China's overall energy security.[310]

China's stake in Gwadar will also allow it to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean, a vital route for oil transportation between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Another advantage to China is that it will be able to bypass the Strait of Malacca. As of now, 60 percent of China's imported oil comes from the Middle East, and 80 percent of that is transported to China through this strait, the dangerous, piracy-rife maritime route through the South China, East China, and Yellow Seas.

Council on Foreign Relations[311]

Access to western China[edit]

The CPEC Alignments will improve connectivity to restive Xinjiang, thereby increasing the region's potential to attract public and private investment.[305] CPEC is considered central to China–Pakistan relations; its central importance is reflected by China's inclusion of the project as part of its 13th five-year development plan.[278][279] The CPEC projects will also complement China's Western Development plan, which includes not only Xinjiang, but also the neighbouring regions of Tibet and Qinghai.[312]

In addition to its significance to reduce Chinese dependence on the Sea of Malacca and South China Sea routes, CPEC will provide China an alternative and shorter route for energy imports from the Middle East, thereby reducing shipping costs and transit times. The currently available sea-route to China is roughly 12,000 kilometre long, while the distance from Gwadar Port to Xinjiang province is approximately 3,000 kilometre, with another 3,500 kilometre from Xinjiang to China's eastern coast.[306] As a result of CPEC, Chinese imports and exports to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe would require much shorter shipment times and distances.

Route to circumvent Afghanistan[edit]

Negotiations to provide an alternate route to the Central Asian republics by way of China predate the announcement of CPEC. The Afghanistan–Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement of 2010 provided Pakistan access to Central Asia via Afghanistan; however, the full agreement has yet to be fully implemented. The "Quadrilateral Agreement on Traffic in Transit" (QATT) was first devised in 1995, and signed in 2004 by the governments of China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan to facilitate transit trade between the various countries, with no inclusion of Afghanistan.[313] Despite signing of the QATT, the agreement's full potential was never realized, largely on account of poor infrastructure links between the four countries prior to the announcement of CPEC.

During the visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to India in April 2015, he said, "We will not provide equal transit access to Central Asia for Pakistani trucks," unless the Pakistani government included India as part of the 2010 Afghanistan–Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.[314] The current Transit Trade Agreement provides Afghanistan access to the Port of Karachi to conduct export trade with India, and allows Afghan goods to be transited up to any border of Pakistan, but does not guarantee Afghan trucks the right to traverse the Wagah Border, nor does the agreement permit Indian goods to be exported to Afghanistan via Pakistan.[315] Owing to continued tensions between India and Pakistan, the Pakistani government expressed reluctance to include India in any trade negotiations with Afghanistan, and as a result, little progress was made between the Afghan and Pakistani sides.

In February 2016, the Pakistani government signalled its intention to completely bypass Afghanistan in its quest to access Central Asia by announcing its intent to revive the QATT so that Central Asian states could access Pakistani ports via Kashgar instead of Afghanistan,[316] thereby allowing the Central Asian republics to access Pakistan's deep water ports without having to rely on a politically unstable Afghanistan as a transit corridor. In early March 2016, the Afghan government reportedly acquiesced to Pakistani requests to use Afghanistan as a corridor to Tajikistan, after having dropped demands from reciprocal access to India via Pakistan.[317]

Alternate route to Central Asia[edit]

The heads of various Central Asian republics have expressed their desire to connect their infrastructure networks to the CPEC project via China. During the August 2015 visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov, conveyed Kazakhstan's desire to link its road network to the CPEC project.[318] During the November 2015 visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to Pakistan, the Tajik premier also expressed his government's desire to join the Quadrilateral Agreement on Traffic in Transit to use CPEC as a conduit for imports and exports to Tajikistan by circumventing Afghanistan;[319] the request received political backing by the Pakistani Prime Minister.[319]

The Chinese government has already upgraded the road linking Kashgar to Osh in Kyrgyzstan via the Kyrgyz town of Erkeshtam while a railway between Urumqi, China and Almaty, Kazakhstan has also been completed as part of China's One Belt One Road initiative.[320] Numerous land crossings already exist between Kazakhstan and China as well. Additionally, the Chinese government has announced plans to lay railway track from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, towards Kyrgyzstan with onwards connections to China and Pakistan.[321] Further, the Pamir Highway already provides Tajikistan access to Kashgar via the Kulma Pass. These crossings complement the CPEC project to provide Central Asian states access to Pakistan's deepwater ports by completely bypassing Afghanistan – a country which has been ravaged by civil war and political instability since the late 1970s.

Comparison to Chabahar Port[edit]

In May 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, signed a series of twelve agreements in Tehran, in which India offered to refurbish one of Chabahar's ten existing berths, and reconstruct another berth at the Port of Chabahar,[322] in order to allow Indian goods to be exported to Iran, with the possibility of onward connections to Afghanistan and Central Asia.[323] As of February 2017, the project remains delayed while the governments of Iran and India blame one another for delays.[324]

A section of the Indian media described it as "a counter to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor",[325] although the total monetary value of projects has been noted to be significantly less than that of CPEC.[326]

As part of the twelve memorandums of understanding signed by Indian and Iranian delegations as per text released by India's Ministry of External Affairs, India will offer a $150 million line of credit extended by the Exim Bank of India,[327] while India Ports Global also signed a contract with Iran's Aria Banader to develop berths at the port,[328] at a cost of $85 million[329] over the course of 18 months.[330]

Under the agreement, India Ports Global will refurbish a 640 meter long container handling facility, and reconstruct a 600 meter long berth at the port.[322] India further agreed to extend a $400 million line of credit to be used for the import of steel for the construction of a rail link between Chabahar and Zahedan,[331] while India's IRCON and Iran's Construction, Development of Transport and Infrastructure Company signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the construction and finance of the Chabahar to Zahedan rail line at a cost of $1.6 billion.[332]

India's Highways and Shipping Minister, Nitin Gadkari suggested that the free trade zone in Chabahar had the potential to attract upwards of $15 billion worth of investment in the future,[333] although he stated that such investments are predicated upon Iran offering India natural gas at a rate of $1.50 per million British Thermal Units,[334] which is substantially lower than the rate of $2.95 per million British Thermal Units offered by Iran.[335] The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the possibility of setting up an aluminum smelter at a cost of $2 billion,[citation needed] as well as establishing a urea processing facility in Chahbahar,[336] although these investments are also contingent upon Iran supplying low-cost natural gas for operation of those facilities.[337]

India, Iran, and Afghanistan also signed an agreement with the intention of simplifying transit procedures between the three countries.[329] Despite the expressed desire to circumvent Pakistan in order to augment Iranian and Indian economic ties, Indian goods destined for Iran currently do not require transit through Pakistan, as those goods can be exported to Iran via Bandar Abbas, where India also currently maintains a diplomatic mission.[338] Bandar Abbas is also consider a key node on the North–South Transport Corridor, backed by India and Russia since 2002.[339][340] Indian goods also can be imported and transited across Iran upon arrival at Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni near the Iraqi border.

As per the Afghanistan–Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, Afghan goods can be transited across Pakistan for export to India as well, though Indian goods cannot be exported to Afghanistan via Pakistan.[341] Upon completion of Chabahar, Indian exporters will benefit from the potential ability to export goods to Afghanistan, a country with an annual gross domestic product estimated at $60.6 billion.[342]

After signing the agreement, Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Mehdi Honerdoost, stated that the agreement was "not finished", and that Iran would welcome the inclusion of both Pakistan and China in the project.[343] While clarifying that Chabahar Port would not be a rival or enemy to Pakistan's Gwadar Port,[344] he further stated that Pakistan and China had both been invited to contribute to the project before India, but according to Pakistani media neither China nor Pakistan had expressed interest in joining.[345][346]

However, eventually, Iranian ambassador made it clear that Iran doesn't consider Chahbahar to be a project which could feasibly rival CPEC as he said "Iran is eager to join CPEC with its full capabilities, possibilities and abilities".[347]

In July 2020, Pakistani media The News International reported that the Iranian government has dropped India from a long stalled rail project and has instead signed a comprehensive deal with China.[348] This report was later refuted by the government of Iran, who stated that the investments from India didn't have anything to do with the railway project in the first place.[349][350]

Security Issues[edit]

While agreements have specifically cited improvements for Afghan connectivity to the world as a benefit of Indian investment in the region,[351] Afghanistan's politically instability could limit the potential usefulness of transit corridors to population centers near Kabul or Kandahar,[352] as those routes traverse southern and eastern Afghanistan, where the Taliban is most active.[353] The Chabahar plan relies upon connections to the Afghan Ring Road.[354] By August 2016, the Taliban was noted to have captured large swathes of land in Helmand Province, and threatened to capture the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah,[355] which lies on the portion of the Afghan Ring Road connecting Chabahar to Kandahar and Kabul. As a result, portions of the Afghan Ring Road were closed due to Taliban insurgent activity.[356] Also in August 2016, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack which left twelve foreign tourists dead as they were traveling on an alternative route to the Afghan Ring Road, between Kabul and Herat.[357] In September 2016, Iran's president Hassan Rouhani expressed his country's interest in joining CPEC during a meeting with Nawaz Sharif.[358] The Pakistan Army has taken the security responsibility of CPEC employees and investors which become more effective and healthy relationship between China and Pakistan.

Security[edit]

Security Forces[edit]

Pakistan Navy and Chinese Navy ships are to jointly guard the safety and security of the trade corridor, as Pakistan seeks to expand the role of its maritime forces.[359] From December 2016, Pakistan's Navy established a special taskforce "TF-88" to ensure there is maritime security for trade.[360][361] Chairman Parliamentary Committee on CPEC confirmed that Sindh province will dispatch 2000 police officers, while Punjab will dispatch 5000 police officers for the project, while the Pakistani Army will deploy 12,000 troops to safeguard the route.[362] China plans to transfer 4 ships to the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency with two ships called PMSS Hingol and PMSS Basol.[363] For territorial security, Pakistan has formed the Special Security Division.[364] Pakistan plans to train 12,000 security personnel to protect Chinese workers on the corridor.[365][366][367] As of August 2015, 8,000 Pakistani security officials were deployed for the protection of over 8,100 Chinese workers in Pakistan.[368] Maqbool Ahmed, an investigative journalist from the now closed Herald reported large scale land acquisition involving tens of thousands of acres near a lagoon in Gwadar by the Pakistani Navy for building a massive garrison in order to secure maritime security.[369]

As part of CPEC, Pakistan has boosted its international engagement in terms of foreign policy with China, Iran, USA, Turkey and Malaysia are to be engaged for the maritime economy related to CPEC.[370] Iranian President Rouhani revealed his intentions to Pakistan to join CPEC in a meeting at the UN[371] Russia has also expressed support for CPEC.[372][373]

The Special Security Division, headed by a Major General, would consist of nine army battalions and six wings of civil armed forces. Similarly, Gwadar Security Task Force is another formation to be raised, commanded by a Brigadier. These security measures for Chinese projects would cost an estimated total of Rupees 10 Billion as of 2015. The Chief of Army Staff visited CPEC Security headquarters in February 2016 and vowed that “the security forces are ready to pay any price” for successful completion of CPEC projects. The NEPRA in Pakistan has raised concerns on the alarming rate of growth in security expenditure of Power Projects under CPEC, which it considers to be "dark".[374]

Baloch militants[edit]

The Balochistan National Party (Mengal) (BNP-M), the Baloch National Front (BNF), the Baloch Republican Party, and militant organizations like the Balochistan Liberation Front, the Balochistan Liberation Army, and the Baloch Republican Army are among those that have raised objections with regards to CPEC.[375] There have been instances of attacking and killing Chinese nationals associated with CPEC.[376] Many Baloch prefer autonomy and control over their own local resources for their development instead of foreign mega projects.[375]

The Baluchistan province saw multiple attempted nationalist and separatist insurgencies before CPEC, but investments in Balochistan have led to a significant drop in separatist groups, and this effect has even seen the integration of the locals in Balochistan in the workforce at Gwadar. Despite this, Pakistan still alleges that India is supporting anti-CPEC agenda, and the Pakistani government often points to such evidence as the alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was caught in the Baluchistan province on 3 March 2016. Information regarding Jadhav was then presented to the United Nations.[377] Exiled Baloch nationalist Hyrbyair Marri in 2016 warned the safety of Chinese nationals working on the project could not be guaranteed,[378] though violence in the region peaked in 2013 before sharply declining.[379][note 1]

The Pakistani government reported that over 800 Baloch militants surrendered to security forces in 2016 after the launch of a reconciliation programme,[381] including over 200 at a single ceremony in November 2016.[382] Balakh Sher Badini, a senior militant commander of the Balochistan Liberation Army, surrendered to Pakistani forces in January 2017.[383] Another 21 militants from another militant group, the Balochistan Republican Army, surrendered shortly thereafter along with 3 militant commanders.[384] A few days later, high-ranking militant commander Lal Din Bugti surrendered to Pakistani security forces, along with 6 other commanders.[385] Separatist violence had decreased in the province so much by 2017, that such groups had become much less of a threat compared to Islamist militants.[386]

Pakistan faced Taliban insurgent violence that largely began in 2008 during the rule of General Pervez Musharraf. China reportedly also expressed concern that militant groups in Xinjiang could collaborate with Tehrik-i-Taliban militants in Pakistan.[53][387] In 2014, Pakistan launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb to eradicate Tehrik-i-Taliban militants from Pakistani territory, following an attack on Karachi's airport, and the 2014 Peshawar school massacre in which terrorists from Tehrik-i-Taliban killed 148 school children.

Following the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, violence in Pakistan has drastically declined.[388] 2016 saw the lowest number of deaths from acts of violence since the current wave of violence began in 2007,[389] with total fatalities dropping nearly 66% compared to 2014.[389] Acts of terrorist violence fell 75% between 2014 and 2016.[390] According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, civilian fatalities from terrorist attacks in 2013 stood at 3,001, while the number had declined to 612 by 2016[391] – the lowest number since 2005.

Uyghur militants[edit]

In the 1980s, Uyghurs from China crossed into Pakistan to get enrolled in Madrassas and with the training and arms provided by Chinese government, they have fought the Soviets in Afghanistan. Upon returning to China, many joined the violent Uyghur nationalist groups.[392] Pakistani intelligence agencies had undertaken crackdown on Uyghurs militants of Islamic State returning from Syria and East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) along with Baloch rebel groups involved in targeting CPEC projects. They claim hostile Indian intelligence agencies are involved in training thousands of militants formerly belonging to Taliban factions. Nearly 30,000 Chinese workers are employed in about 280 Chinese funded projects where almost 35,000 security personnel have been deployed.[393]

Alleged Indian subversion[edit]

CPEC passes through the disputed region of Kashmir where Indian and Pakistani border guards have occasionally exchanged fire across the Line of Control,[394][395] though no CPEC project is located near the line. Chinese intelligence agencies have also reportedly shared information with Pakistani authorities regarding alleged efforts by the India's Research and Analysis Wing to subvert CPEC.[396] In March 2016, Pakistan reported that it had arrested Kulbhushan Yadav, whom Pakistan claims to be a spy from India's Research and Analysis Wing, and who entered Pakistan from Iran specifically to destabilize regions in Pakistan's Baluchistan province along with terrorist organization Tehrik-i-Taliban and Baloch liberation army (B.L.A) in order to hinder implementation of CPEC projects.[397][original research?] India though has denied the claim saying that Yadav had been "kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly".[398] Former Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif in April 2016 accused India's Research and Analysis Wing of destabilizing Pakistan in an attempt to disrupt and stymie implementation of various CPEC projects.[399] Pakistan's Secretary of Defense Lieutenant General Alam Khattak stated in April 2016 that the arrest of Kulbhushan Yadav indicated Indian interference in CPEC, and further alleged that India's Research and Analysis Wing, in collusion with Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, had set up a dedicated espionage unit with express intent to sabotage CPEC.[400] India moved to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which after deliberation stayed execution of sentence passed by Pakistani military court, the ICJ also found violation of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by Pakistan and directed Pakistan to provide consular access to Kulbhushan Yadav in its July 2019 verdict.[401][402]

List of major projects[edit]

Gwadar Projects Estimated Cost Status Notes
Gwadar Port 300 US $ million Partially Completed Phase 1 complete. Phase 2 under construction.[403] Tax exemptions for port and Free Zone notified in Finance Act 2020. 46 enterprises have been registered for investment in Free Zone. 03 companies started production. First imports cum exports cargo by M/s HKSUN received in Gwadar free zone on 7 April 2021.
East Bay Expressway 179 US $ million Completed Project completed and inaugurated on 3 June 2022.[256]
Pak China Friendship Hospital 100 US $ million Completed Completed and inaugurated on 5 December 2023.[404]
1.2 MGD Sea Water Desalination Plant 12.7 US $ million Completed The project implementation started in 2021 and completed successfully on 7 November 2023.[404]
Pak China Technical And Vocational Institute 10 US $ million Completed This project will aim at creating state-of-the-art vocational and technical training institute in Gwadar. Completed in October 2021.[405]
New Gwadar International Airport 230 US $ million Under Construction Construction work started on 31 October 2019. It will be operational in June 2024.[256][406]
Road/Railway Projects Length (Km) Estimated Cost Status Notes
Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab (M-8) 193 Rs. 13 billion Completed Completed in 2016, it will connect the western, central and eastern routes of CPEC with the Gwadar Port.[407][408]
Surab-Hoshab (N-85) 449 Rs. 17.97 Billion Completed N85 highway connects Hoshab to Sorab and is an essential link in the western route of CPEC.[407]
Zhob – Quetta (Kuchlak) (N-50) 305 Rs. 66.8 Billion Under Construction Tendering for construction work of two sections is completed and contractor mobilized whereas the remaining three sections tendering will process soon.[409]
Reconstruction of the Karakoram Highway Phase II 118 1,315 US $ million Completed It's Thakot -Havelian Section of 118 km has been completed by March 2020.[410]
Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5) 392 2,889 US $ million Completed Inaugurated on 5 November 2019, this 392 km Sukkur to Multan Motorway is a critical element of the Peshawar to Karachi Motorway Route.[411]
Abdul Hakeem-Lahore Motorway (M-3) 230 Completed Project has been completed and inaugurated on 30 March 2019.
Hakla D.I Khan Motorway 285 Rs. 122.2 billion Completed It is part of the western alignment of CPEC. Project completed and inaugurated on 5 January 2022.[412]
Khuzdar-Basima Road N-30 106 19.19 Billion Rupee Completed Projected completed in June 2023.[413]
Orange Line (Lahore Metro) 27 1,626 US $ million Completed Project is completed and inaugurated on 25 October 2020.[414]
Upgradation of Karachi–Peshawar Line ML-1 1,872 6,808 US $ million In Planning The entire track from Karachi to Peshawar to be doubled. Speed of passenger trains to be raise from 65/110 km/h to 160 km/h. ECNEC approved the project on 5 August 2020.[415]
Energy Projects Capacity (MW) Estimated Cost Status Notes
Kohala Hydropower Project 1,100 2,400 US $ million In Planning Expected completion in 2026.[416]
Azad Pattan Hydropower Project 701 1,600 US $ million In Planning Expected commercial operation date (COD) 2026.[417]
Dawood wind power project 50 112.65 US $ million Completed Commercial operation date (COD) 5 April 2017. Fully operational.[418]
Karot Hydropower Project 720 1,720 US $ million Completed Completed and put into full commercial operations on 29 June 2022.[419]
Port Qasim Power Project 1,320 1,912 US $ million Completed Project has been completed on 25 April 2018.[420]
Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park 1,000 1,301 US $ million Partially Completed First phase complete, generating 400 MW of electricity.[197] 600 MW Under implementation.[195]
Sahiwal Coal Power Project 1,320 1,912 US $ million Completed Completed in July 2017. In operation.[216]
UEP Wind Farm 99 250 US $ million Completed Commercial operation date (COD) 16 June 2017, Operational.[421]
Sachal Wind Farm 50 134 US $ million Completed Commercial operation date (COD) attained 11 April 2017, Operational.[422]
Three Gorges Second and Third Wind Power Projects 100 150 US $ million Completed Commercial operation date (COD) attained 9 Jul 2018, Operational.[423]
Western Energy (Pvt.) Ltd. Wind Power Project 50 63.12 US $ million In Planning Generation Licence Acquired. Tariff in Review.[424]
Hubco Coal Power Project 1,320 1,912 US $ million Completed COD is 14 August 2019, fully operational.[425]
Suki Kinari Hydropower Project 870 2,000 US $ million Under Construction Project will be completed by mid-2024.[426]
Coal Power Project of Engro Powergen Limited at Thar Block-II 660 995 US $ million Completed COD is 10 July 2019. In operation.[427]
Coal Power Project of Shanghai Electric at Thar Block-I 1,320 1,440 US $ million completed Project Completed on 5 February 2023.[428]
Coal Power Project of Thar Energy Limited at Thar Block-II 330 498 US $ million Completed The Project has successfully achieved its commercial operations date on 1 October 2022.[429]
Coal Power Project of Thal Nova Power Limited at Thar Block-II 330 498 US $ million completed Operational. Synchronized with national grid on 30 December 2022.[429]
Other Energy Projects Capacity Cost Status Notes
Matiari to Lahore HVDC Transmission Line (878 km) 4,000 MW 1,658 US $ million Completed Project has been completed in September 2021.[430] This state-of-the-art transmission line is built to evacuate 4,000 MW of power from the coal power plants being developed in thar coal field to national grid stations located in central part of the country.
Open Pit Mine of SSRL in Block-I of Thar Coal Field 7.6 Million tons / year 1,080 US $ million Completed On 31 January 2022, the first shovel of lignite coal was extracted at the mine.[431] It will enable mine-mouth coal power project of Shanghai Electric to generate 1,320 MW electricity.
Open Pit Mine of SECMC in Block-II of Thar Coal Field 7.6 Million tons / year 630 US $ million Completed Thar block-II unearthed coal on 10 June 2018.[432] Coal is being provided to 660 MW coal power project of Engro Powergen Limited, 330 MW TEL coal power plant and 330 MW Thal Nova coal power plant located at the site. It has achieved a major milestone of completing phase II of mine expansion on 10 October 2022, announcing the Commercial Operations Date (COD) for the 7.6 million tons per annum (MTPA) mine expansion from the previously 3.8 million tons per annum under phase I of its plan. Mine capacity is being increased to 12.2 million tons /year by June 2023.[433][434]
Special Economic Zones Area Status Notes
Rashakai Economic Zone, M-1, Nowshera 702 Acres Launched Rashakai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was rolled out in Jun 2021, kicking off phase II of CPEC.
Dhabeji Special Economic Zone 1530 Acres Under Bidding Process The land has been allocated.
Allama Iqbal Industrial City, Faisalabad 3217 Acres Launched Numerous national and international enterprises have been allotted plots in the SEZ. Few companies have already started construction work.
Bostan Industrial Zone 1000 Acres Launched Phase-1 has been launched for allotment of industrial plots.

Cancelled projects[edit]

Projects Capacity Location Notes
Gadani Power Project 6,600 MW (10 x 660 MW plants) Balochistan
Rahimyar Khan coal power project 1,320 MW (2 x 660 MW plants) Punjab [435]
Muzaffargarh coal power project 1,320 MW (2 x 660 MW plants) Punjab [435]
Matiari to Faisalabad transmission line 660 kilovolt Sindh and Punjab
Imported Coal Based Power Project at Gwadar 330 MW Gwadar [436]

Challenges[edit]

Political, Legal and Social Risks[edit]

Political regimes in Pakistan are not stable and the civil government establishments have often seen military interference. Such scenarios result in frequent change in leadership thereby jeopardizing the agreements signed by previous leaders. This increases the uncertainty in the commercial environment, unreliable outcomes of investments and endangers the ease of doing business. This risk gets magnified when foreign investments and workers are involved. A flawed legal system in the country encourages sub-standard construction procedures, illegitimate bid activities, corrupt and unprofessional interference, breached contracts, unethical discrimination and irregularity in laws. Instances of crime, extortion, kidnapping, arms conflict, terrorist attacks, extremism & civil wars, nationwide strikes, protests, riots, and mass expropriations are hindrances to timely and successful completion of projects.[437]

In 2021, local residents of Gwadar protested against the perceived threat to their livelihoods due to illegal fishing in local waters allegedly by Chinese trawlers.[438] In 2023, the provincial government undertook a crackdown on the illegal trawlers after months of protests, resulting in reappearance of marine life.[439]

Known for its dominance over civil institutions and democratic rule,[440] China had sought to enlist Pakistan's military for the lead role as it guarantees the successful completion of projects at a time when the politicians were infighting for the ownership of the corridor projects.[441] During the tenure of Nawaz Sharif, many projects were launched in Punjab Province which has a significant vote bank for the PML-N leader. Upon assuming power, Imran Khan pressurised the Chinese for development of Rashakai SEZ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province which is stronghold for the PTI leader.[442] 2017 official statistics shared with the parliament of Pakistan, showed out of 330 CPEC related projects in Pakistan, 176 are in Punjab province while Balochistan had an allocation of 8 CPEC projects.[443] During 2018 national election campaign, Imran Khan rallied against the alleged corruption of previous government and highlighted unfair contracts in CPEC.[444] Sceptics also question on the efficient usage of foreign money to develop the infrastructure given the level of corruption.[445] China even temporarily halted the release of funds for 3 projects in 2017 due to reports of corruption.[446]

In February 2023, the Gwadar Port was predicted to cost five times more which the officials blamed on the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs for having developed the dredging project in last year at Rs 1bn on guesstimates in emergency circumstances for the delivery and diverting of a couple 50,000DWT cargo ships due to navigational challenges. However, the costs were then increased based on a proper study conducted by Pakistan Navy followed by competitive bidding.[447]

The delay of the maintenance dredging for a few years were already to possibly have serious repercussions in terms of penalties and damages that might have been imposed on GPA by the Concession Holder due to loss in business.[447]

Pakistani economic crisis[edit]

The worst economic crisis in Pakistan's history since 2022 calls into question whether CPEC can achieve its development goals.[448]

Geopolitical Challenges

CPEC also faces certain Geopolitical Challenges. US-China rivalry is considered a most important challenge as United States is skeptical about the project. US leadership has often stated concerns about the CPEC including lack of transparency, a debt trap and issue of Pakistan's sovereignty. Furthermore, India has also shown its discontent with the project due to its prevailing border tensions with both China and Pakistan. [449]

Criticism[edit]

Kaiser Bengali, a senior economist who was associated with Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Government of Pakistan and has headed research institutions including Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC), Karachi, and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad, has highlighted that no feasibility study was conducted for the CPEC and the negative economic implications from the drawbacks of tax exemption given to Chinese products. Environmental Impact Assessment was also not done to offset the environmental cost of CPEC.[88]

Chinese intent[edit]

Although announced as developed for commercial purposes, chances of port infrastructure projects transforming into a well-equipped military naval base in the future cannot be ruled out.[450][451] The earliest hints of military (PLA) involvement in this ambitious global project started appearing in 2015.[452] In 2018, The New York Times speculated military interests of China in Pakistan "instead of an economic project with peaceful intent". Beijing-based military analysts and high-ranking officials have highlighted geostrategic importance of Gwadar Port and indicated the need to develop a naval base in near vicinity similar to the one China built in Djibouti.[453][451][454] However, when asked about Pakistan's offer to turn Gwadar into a PLA naval base,[455] the spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied its existence, stating: “I have not heard of it. It’s my understanding that this issue was not touched upon.”

Observers have also pointed out that by involving nations in its megaprojects, China has silenced its allies, including Pakistan, on the [[[Persecution of Uyghurs in China|mistreatment of Uyghurs]]. This is notable as all those who are vocal on the religious aspects of conflicts in Palestine, Kashmir or that of Rohingya people does not highlight or raise the issue of human right violations against the Uyghurs.[456] In 2022, many countries including Pakistan voted against and rejected another motion by Western countries seeking debate on China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims and Human Rights violations.[457]

The fibreoptic project would aid in terrestrial distribution of broadcast Television in Pakistan which will cooperate with Chinese media in the “dissemination of Chinese culture”. The CPEC plan anticipates an intense and wide-ranging penetration in most sectors of Pakistan's economy as well as its society by Chinese enterprises and culture. Access to the full supply chain of the agrarian economy is a top priority for the Chinese.[30]

In 2022, Twitter suspended fake accounts being operated from Pakistan, identified in a report by the Indian non-profit organization Digital Forensics, Research and Analytics Centre (D-FRAC) that were involved in disinformation campaigns regarding CPEC. The report claimed they were spreading "false Chinese narratives regarding CPEC".[458]

Debt Trap[edit]

CPEC is seen as the main plank of China's Belt and Road Initiative.[459] Should the initial $46 billion worth of projects be implemented, the value of those projects would be roughly equivalent to all foreign direct investment in Pakistan since 1970,[460] and would be equal to 17% of Pakistan's 2015 gross domestic product.[461] The external debt of Pakistan has surged significantly after accepting this Chinese offer.[35]

Chinese monetary offer for Pakistan under CPEC being a combination of Debt & Equity, it is evaluated that the Debt component will be serviced at 7%–8% interest per annum while Equity component is expected to deliver an estimated ROE of 17% per annum. The Pakistan government, however, claims that the Chinese loans will be repaid over a period of 20–25 years at rate of 2% interest.[462] Christine Fair, a South Asia expert at Georgetown University has termed CPEC as "Colonizing Pakistan to Enrich China".

From early 1990s, IMF has provided more than a dozen bailouts on requests by Pakistan to save its dwindling economy, which has struggled 22 of the 30 years in meeting the austerity measures demanded by IMF. Nadeem-ul-Haque, a former IMF official and former deputy chairman of the Pakistani government's Planning Commission wrote, "The pattern is always the same, with the Fund’s blessing, the government goes on a shopping spree, taking out costly loans for expensive projects, thus building up even more debt and adding new inefficiencies. After a few years, another crisis ensues, and it is met by another IMF program."[463] The Pakistani establishment sees Chinese loans as an alternative to IMF loans.[464]

Many of the nations with which China has partnered have a history of political instability, military intervention in governance, problems of law and order, rampant corruption, lack of transparency and no entrepreneurial culture. Hence the critics call these projects “a neo-colonial scheme” and “a debt trap” for many nations.[456][38]

Parallels with Sri Lanka[edit]

Observers have drawn comparisons with 2022 economic turmoil of Sri Lanka as a consequence of inability to repay[465] $6 billion in loans used to construct an expensive Chinese-led port and airport project in Hambantota. Sri Lankan authorities settled the debt by giving up control of the port and some 15,000 acres of land around it to China on a 99-year lease. Citing examples of several countries from Malaysia to Colombia involved in Belt and Road Initiative, the opacity[464] involved in the Chinese ventures have evoked accusations that such projects lead to corruption and mismanagement that ultimately risk losing the natural resources and sovereignty of the participating nations.[466][463] It is in resemblance with Gwadar Port given to Chinese control for a lease period of 40 years.[438] Pakistan has already started negotiating the debt-relief from China owing to difficulties to repay the loan and is seeking ease in the payment obligations towards debt and its interest for the projects under CPEC.[40] As of 2022, Pakistan owes China about $30 billion which accounts for nearly 30% of its foreign debt.[467]

Financial Implications[edit]

According to official statistics, 20% of CPEC is debt-based finance,[468] while 80% of CPEC are investments in Joint Ventures (JV) enterprise between Pakistan and China,[469] with the initial estimate of project contributing to 40,000 jobs for local Pakistanis and 80,000 jobs for Chinese. However, at a later stage of project execution, it was reported that in some cases, China has apparently brought in its prisoners as workforce thereby depriving the opportunities for local Pakistani population.[470] Official statistics suggested a return of US$6 billion to 8 billion from taxes per annum such as road and bridge tolls. The total CPEC loan is 6% of Pakistan's GDP, however many commentators and a few Governments claimed the project a debt-trap.[471] Nevertheless, officials countered that 3.5% of Pakistani GDP per annum is lost due to poor transportation networks, which the CPEC investment aims to remedy leading to added benefits for any lag in Pakistan's growth statistic. Economic analysts have stated tangible benefits of this initiative including an end to the major energy shortages in Pakistan which had previously crippled economic growth.[472] On 14 January 2020, Pakistan operationalized Gwadar Port for Afghan transit trade.[473] On 31 May 2021, Gwadar Port become fully operational, along with the availability of online booking for the delivery of goods.[474]

In addition to the aforementioned issues, some sources have suggested that the interest rate for CPEC related loans would be high, with India's Daily News and Analysis paper suggesting that Pakistan had unwittingly accepted loans that would "be offered at very high rates of interest",[475] although the actual interest rates were negotiated prior to acceptance, and for most projects will be 1.6%;[92] conversely previous Pakistani infrastructure projects financed by the World Bank carried an interest rate between 5% and 8.5% in comparison, and have strings attached.[476][266]

Several articles in Pakistan have criticised the project's finances as being shrouded in mystery, while one article suggested that "there is far too much secrecy and far too little transparency".[477] The Private Power and Infrastructure Board has also been accused of irregularities in the approval process for coal power plants and the tariffs at which Pakistan is contractually obliged to purchase electricity from those plants,[478] with special concern regarding potential irregularities in the tariff approved for the 300 MW coal power plant to be built in Pind Dadan Khan by China Machinery Engineering Corporation.[479]

In December 2017, it was reported that as per the Gwadar Port agreement, the Chinese companies would get 91 per cent but the Gwadar Port Authority would get only 9 per cent of revenue. In the same month a seven-member delegation of Senators visited China. On returning from China, all the Senators issued press statements and unequivocally claimed that Balochistan would not get anything from the CPEC. One of the senators, Senator Kabir Muhammad Shahi also claimed that while 60% of the funds are being used for power generation, other than 300 MW for Gwadar Port, not even 1 MW of that would be given to Balochistan.[480][481]

Trade Imbalance[edit]

Local traders in Pakistan have expressed their reservations over CPEC.[482] Chinese exports through the Karakoram Highway have entered the domestic Pakistani market, and are cheaper due to the relatively higher cost of production in Pakistan.[483] It has also been speculated that the CPEC will replace Pakistani exports by Chinese ones in external markets.[483] Increasing import of automobiles, weapons, home appliances and agricultural products from China to Pakistan is major concern for the disproportion trade deficit.[24]

Baloch Nationalists[edit]

Resistance of impoverished locals in the Balochistan region's Gwadar is a major hurdle in this project.[375] The region is a wealth of minerals but this does not reflect in the impoverished lives of residents[484] who struggle for basic minimum necessities, such as clean drinking water, reliable power supply, education and health facilities. Government neglect on poverty and unemployment has given rise to religious extremism. Non-consultation before taking up the plan and the denial of employment to local population by bringing people from other provinces to work for the project has increased the hostility.[484]

Some Baloch nationalists have opposed the large-scale development projects envisioned by CPEC, fearing that such developments in the province would eventually result in local residents "losing control" over natural resources.[485] Others have alleged that CPEC is a "conspiracy" meant to stimulate the settlement of migrants from other regions of Pakistan in order to render ethnic Baloch a minority in the province.[486]

In accordance to the Pakistani Government's announcement of its intent to issue resident cards to the city's inhabitants as a security measure to prevent the movement of firearms into the city,[487] former Chief Minister of Balochistan province, Akhtar Mengal, suggested at a political rally in November 2015, that execution of CPEC projects and the resident card policy would eventually result in ethnic Baloch being denied entry into the city.[488] The resident cards measure would require any non-resident visitor to the city to register at designated security checkpoints prior to entering the city by road,[487] without any reference to ethnicity. The former Chief Minister did, however, clarify that he would not oppose development projects in the province that he believed would uplift the plight of local residents.[488] Shortly thereafter, the Pakistani government announced its intention to establish a training institute named Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute at Gwadar which is to be completed at the cost of 943 million rupees to impart skills to local residents to train them to operate machinery at the port.[45]

Indian analyst Athar Hussain, the director of the Asia Research Centre at London School of Economics, has expressed concerns that the CPEC is "likely to bring more development to regions that are already developed, instead of poor areas such as Balochistan."[489] Burzine Waghmar, a member of the Centre for the Study of Pakistan, SOAS, University of London, suggested that CPEC projects are not targeted towards benefiting the indigenous Baloch population, and will accelerate human rights violations in the province.[489]

In December 2016, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) released a report that given the rate at which Chinese nationals were migrating to Balochistan for the CPEC project, the Chinese would outnumber the Baloch people by 2048, raising concerns of marginalisation of the Baloch citizens.[490][491]

Gwadar residents' concerns[edit]

Access to traditional fishing zones and subsistence fishing practices, involvement and hiring of local people in the developmental projects, curbing interference of security forces in daily city affairs and easing the navigation from checkpoints and surveillance installations, right healthcare and quality education are among the demands of Gwadar residents.[492]

While nationalists openly oppose CPEC, some local leaders and residents of Gwadar city have also expressed concern in regards to the project – the head of Gwadar's local fisherman association stated in an interview with NBC News that "Development is good, China is our great friend, this CPEC thing sounds amazing, but don't forget that this is our land, first."[493] Other residents doubt they will see any of the benefits promised by CPEC, while others fear they will be evicted from their homes in order to make way for infrastructure works.[494]

In response to concerns of local residents, Lt. General Amer Riaz who currently heads security operations in the province, stated that locals would not be deprived of benefits, and that local Gwadar residents would have "the first right to everything."[495] Pakistan's Minister of Planning, National Reforms, and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, further stated in May 2016 that Gwadar residents would be regarded as "main stakeholders" in the city's master plan, and that fishermen specifically would also be accommodated by the plan.[496] The developer of Gwadar Port, COPHC, has also announced that it will assist Gwadar's fishermen to help boost the region's seafood industry by developing programmes to improve the quality of local seafoods.[497]

KP Provincial Assembly[edit]

Some planning aspects and technicalities associated with the route have been criticised in political forums and by the media.[498] The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province adopted a resolution against the alleged decision of the central government to change the multibillion route of the proposed project by diverting it away from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.[499]

The federal Minister of Planning Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal formally denied any change in the alignment.[50][500][501] According to Dr Ahmad Rashid Malik, senior research fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), the route controversy is "baseless and an unfounded reality...".[502] As a result of objections to CPEC, the Chinese government in 2015 issued a statement urging Pakistani political parties to resolve their differences over the project.[503]

Indian objections[edit]

India's objections to Chinese activity in Pakistan-administered Kashmir dates back to the 1970s, when the People's Liberation Army built the Karakoram Highway that linked China's far-western province of Xinjiang with northern Pakistan.[504]

The Government of India, which shares tense relations with Pakistan, objects to the CPEC project as upgrade works to the Karakoram Highway are taking place in Gilgit-Baltistan; territory that India claims as its own. During the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China in 2015, the Indian Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj reportedly told Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping that projects passing through Gilgit-Baltistan are "unacceptable" as they require construction in the claimed territory.[505][506] India's Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also confirmed that the issue had been raised with the Chinese government on the trip.[507] Swaraj reiterated this stance during a meeting in August 2016 with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, stating India would "resolutely oppose" the corridor in Kashmir.[508]

India further did not initially object to major Chinese-sponsored upgrade works to the Karakoram Highway after a 2010 earthquake, though it did object the presence of Chinese troops in the region that were sent to guard Chinese workers.[509]

India further did not object to construction of the Mangla Dam, undertaken with World Bank funding and British technical assistance in southern Kashmir − a region which India claims as its own territory. India even maintained that the Wullar Barrage project in Indian-administered Kashmir, which Pakistan regards as a violation of the Indus Water Treaty, would ultimately be beneficial for the Mangla Dam.[510] India further did not object to construction works at the Kashmir's Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Plant, under construction with Chinese assistance since 2008. India in 1991 did not raise objections to its construction.[511]

Following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, large-scale reconstruction work of infrastructure took place across northern Kashmir with the assistance of South Korean, Turkish, and Saudi firms.[512] Chinese companies took part in 14 post-earthquake reconstruction projects in the disputed region, worth $6 billion.[513] India did not object to these works, despite the fact that infrastructure near the militarily sensitive Line of Control were upgraded.

Indian objection to Chinese construction works in the Gilgit-Baltistan arose in 2011 in response to a Chinese complaint regarding a joint Indian-Vietnamese oil exploration project in the disputed South China Sea.[514] The influential Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, a think tank funded by the Indian Ministry of Defence,[515] in 2011 called for India to begin raising objection to Chinese projects in the region at the "international level."[516]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Which Pakistan alleges are supported by Indian intelligence services.[377] Between 2014 and 2015, acts of terrorism decreased by 50% in the province, while sharp decreases were also noted in deaths, kidnappings, and sectarian killings.[380]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Jon Boone (20 April 2015). "China president in Pakistan to sign £30bn 'land corridor' agreement". The Guardian. Islamabad. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  2. ^ Shayan Rauf. "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)". britannica.com. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Investment under CPEC rises to $62 billion: Zubair". Business Recorder.
  4. ^ "Works on CPEC projects to be accelerated in 2020: Asad Umar". Dunya News.
  5. ^ "Work on CPEC projects to be accelerated". The Express Tribune. 11 January 2020.
  6. ^ Umair Jamal (3 November 2022). "Pakistani PM's Visit to China Puts CPEC Back on Track". The Diplomat. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. ^ John Hurley; Scott Morris; Gailyn Portelance (March 2018). "Examining the Debt Implications of the Belt and Road Initiative from a Policy Perspective" (PDF). CGD Policy Paper. Center for Global Development: 19. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Backgrounder: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor". China Daily Information Co (CDIC). 22 April 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  9. ^ a b c The Editorial Board (23 April 2015). "China's Big Plunge in Pakistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Lucy Hornby; Charles Clover (12 October 2015). "China's Great Game: Road to a new empire". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Pakistan has a lot to learn from China: Iqbal". The Express Tribune. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  12. ^ Sukumar, Arun Mohan (10 January 2017). "What the Marshall Plan Can Teach India About the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor". The Wire (India). Retrieved 22 January 2017. The CPEC may be a bilateral endeavour, but New Delhi cannot ignore its spillover effects on regional governance. The inequities in the China-Pakistan relationship and the nature of proposed Chinese investment in the CPEC merit a comparison with the Marshall Plan, the most successful foreign assistance project of the 20th century.
  13. ^ Muhammad, Salim (6 November 2016). "Marshall Plan for Pakistan". The News on Sunday. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  14. ^ Curran, Enda (7 August 2016). "China's Marshall Plan". Bloomberg. Retrieved 22 January 2017. China's ambition to revive an ancient trading route stretching from Asia to Europe could leave an economic legacy bigger than the Marshall Plan or the European Union's enlargement, according to a new analysis.
  15. ^ Haddad, Tareq (6 January 2017). "Pakistan builds state-of-the-art warships to defend new trade routes with China". International Business Times (UK). Retrieved 22 January 2017. "Symbolically it would be potent evidence of what economic benefits a country that allies with Beijing can expect. A rough comparison would be the Marshall Fund, the programme by which the United States rebuilt war-torn Europe, reworked the very economic structure of that continent and showcased its arrival as a superpower.
  16. ^ a b c Shah, Saeed. "Big Chinese-Pakistani Project Tries to Overcome Jihadists, Droughts and Doubts". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Chinese support to Pak economy will continue: Nong Rong". The News International. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  18. ^ Tom Phillips (12 May 2017). "World's biggest building project aims to make China great again". The Guardian. Tashkurgan. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  19. ^ a b Cui Jia (28 June 2014). "China studying new Silk Road rail link to Pakistan". China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  20. ^ Wang Ting (14 April 2015). "China gets 40-year rights at Pakistani port – World". China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  21. ^ Dr Manzoor Ali Isran (27 January 2017). "Six concerns PML-N government must address about CPEC". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  22. ^ "The CPEC challenge and the India-China standoff: An opportunity for war or peace?". The Times of India. 9 August 2020.
  23. ^ Asif Shahzad (2 November 2022). "Pakistan's Sharif lands in Beijing to discuss economy, debt". Reuters. Islamabad. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  24. ^ a b Muhammad Zahid Ullah Khan; Minhas Majeed Khan (2019). "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Opportunities and Challenges". Strategic Studies. 39 No.2 (Summer 2019). Islamabad: Institute of Strategic Studies: 67–82. JSTOR 48544300. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  25. ^ "CPEC: The devil is not in the details". Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  26. ^ "Economic corridor: Chinese official sets record straight". The Express Tribune. 2 March 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015.
  27. ^ Hussain, Tom (19 April 2015). "China's Xi in Pakistan to cement huge infrastructure projects, submarine sales". McClatchy News. Islamabad: mcclatchydc. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  28. ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (30 September 2016). "With a new Chinese loan, CPEC is now worth $54bn". Dawn. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  29. ^ News Desk (1 February 2023). "CPEC unfolding opportunities for Pakistan | By Muhammad Zamir Assadi". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  30. ^ a b Khurram Husain (14 May 2017). "Exclusive: CPEC master plan revealed". Pakistan: DAWN. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  31. ^ a b Yvonne Lau (13 September 2022). "China gave tens of billions in secretive 'emergency loans' to vulnerable nations, emerging as world's major creditor and IMF competitor". Fortune. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  32. ^ Sebastian Horn; Carmen Reinhart; Christoph Trebesch (11 April 2022). "China's overseas lending and the war in Ukraine". cepr.org. Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR). Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  33. ^ Ume Farwa; Ghazanfar Ali Garewal (June 2020). Vargas, Soraya Caro (ed.). Economic Corridors in Asia: Paradigm of Integration? A Reflection for Latin America. Universidad del Externado. ISBN 9789587903812. JSTOR j.ctv1rcf2bf. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  34. ^ Andrew Small (September 2020). "CPEC IN MOTION". Research Report: Returning to the Shadows: China, Pakistan, and the Fate of CPEC. German Marshall Fund of the United States: 29. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  35. ^ a b Ishaan Tharoor (10 August 2018). "Pakistan may be the next victim of China's new 'imperialism'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  36. ^ a b c Rakisits, Claude (Fall 2015). "A Path to the Sea: China's Pakistan Plan". World Affairs Journal. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  37. ^ a b Khan, Bilal (3 December 2015). "Pakistan's economy is turning a corner". Standard Charter Bank. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  38. ^ a b c d e "Massive Chinese investment is a boon for Pakistan". The Economist. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  39. ^ Khurram Husain (15 December 2016). "CPEC cost build-up". Pakistan. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  40. ^ a b "High-risk countries approach China for debt relief". ISLAMABAD: Dawn. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  41. ^ Faseeh Mangi (2 September 2022). "China's Funding to Pakistan Stands at 30% of Foreign Debt". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  42. ^ Jillani, Shahzeb (23 November 2022). "Analysis: China's shifting energy investments in Pakistan, from coal to renewables". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  43. ^ "Pakistan has a lot to learn from China: Iqbal". The Express Tribune. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  44. ^ Mahnaz Z. Ispahani (June 1989). Roads and Rivals: The Political Uses of Access in the Borderlands of Asia (First ed.). Cornell University Press. p. 191. ISBN 978-0801422201.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g Abrar, Mian (4 December 2015). "Between the devil and deep Gwadar waters". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  46. ^ "Li Keqiang: China-Pakistan ties 'unbreakable', economic corridor planned". gbtimes.com. 23 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014.
  47. ^ Salam, Nihao. "Pakistan, China sign agreements, MoUs on Economic Corridor Plan, maritime cooperation". www.nihao-salam.com. Retrieved 18 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  48. ^ a b Tiezzi, Shannon (20 February 2014). "China, Pakistan Flesh Out New 'Economic Corridor'". The Diplomat. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  49. ^ "Nawaz Sharif, Li Keqiang to firm up plans for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor". The Times of India. timesofindia-economictimes.
  50. ^ a b "Politicians hit out at 'unfair' Pakistan-China Economic Corridor". The Express Tribune. 22 April 2015.
  51. ^ Ankit Panda (20 April 2015). "Xi Jinping on Pakistan: 'I Feel As If I Am Going to Visit the Home of My Own Brother'". The Diplomat. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  52. ^ James Schwemlein (1 December 2019). Strategic Implications of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (Research Report 459). Washington: US Institute of Peace. ISBN 9781601277923. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  53. ^ a b c "Pakistan lands $46 billion investment from China". CNN. 20 April 2015.
  54. ^ "Ministry of Planning, Development & Reforms" (Press release). pc.gov.pk.
  55. ^ "Here's why Indian strategists should worry about China's $46 billion funding to Pakistan". Firstpost. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  56. ^ "Transport policy: need of the day". Dawn. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017. "Dr Nadeem-ul-Haque was deputy chairman of the Planning Commission – saying it would reverse a colossal loss of 3.5pc of GDP that Pakistan was incurring due to poor transport infrastructure.
  57. ^ Shah, Saeed (20 April 2015). "China's Xi Jinping Launches Investment Deal in Pakistan". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  58. ^ "Karachi to Lahore Motorway Project Approved". Dawn. The Dawn Media Group. 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  59. ^ "Railway track project planned from Karachi to Peshawar". Pakistan Tribune. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  60. ^ "CPEC may get extra billion dollars". Pakistan: The Nation. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  61. ^ Zhen, Summer (11 November 2015). "Chinese firm takes control of Gwadar Port free-trade zone in Pakistan". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  62. ^ Salman, Rafi (23 October 2016). "A new 'East India Company' in the making?". www.atimes.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  63. ^ a b Malik, Ahmad Rashid (7 December 2015). "A miracle on the Indus River". The Diplomat. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  64. ^ a b "Electricity shortfall increases to 4,500 MW". Dunya News. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  65. ^ a b c Kugelman, Michael (9 July 2015). "Pakistan's Other National Struggle: Its Energy Crisis". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  66. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary body on CPEC expresses concern over coal import". Daily Times. 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  67. ^ a b Shah, Saeed (9 April 2015). "China to Build Pipeline From Iran to Pakistan". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  68. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park: Solar energy's 100 MW to arrive in April". The Express Tribune. 27 March 2015.
  69. ^ "China, Pakistan Sign Deals Worth USD 1.6 Billion to Beef Up CPEC". Outlook India. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  70. ^ Tiezzi, Shannon (13 August 2016). "The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Gets Even More Ambitious". The Diplomate. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  71. ^ "China, Pakistan sign co-op agreements worth over 10 billion yuan". Xinhua News Agency. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  72. ^ a b "Pakistan, China to cooperate in space as part of Karamay declaration". Dawn. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  73. ^ Shahbaz Rana (1 September 2015). "UK to partner in CPEC, provide $121.6 million grant". The Express Tribune.
  74. ^ Shahbaz Rana (23 October 2015). "Pakistan, ADB sign $178m agreement for M-4 section". The Express Tribune.
  75. ^ "CPEC made part of China's 13th 5-year development plan: Weidong". Pakistan Today. 23 November 2015.
  76. ^ "Pak-China 'Technology Park' on anvil". The Express Tribune. 2 December 2015.
  77. ^ "China's Xinjiang seals Pakistan ties with $2 billion in deals – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  78. ^ "With Gwadar set to go operational, CPEC dreams come true". DAWN.COM. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  79. ^ "Rail, sea freight service open with China – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  80. ^ "First cargo train under CPEC leaves China for Karachi". Daily Pakistan Global. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  81. ^ Strohecker, Karin (23 November 2016). "Pakistan says China to make extra $8.5 billion investments in rail, energy". Reuters.
  82. ^ "Egypt Expresses Desire to Join CPEC". New Indian Express. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  83. ^ "Chinese firms to invest $20b in KP: Khattak". The News. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  84. ^ "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inks deals worth $20bn with Chinese companies". Dawn. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  85. ^ a b Kiani, Khaleeq (3 March 2018). "Energy investments under CPEC shifted to hydropower sector". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  86. ^ "CPEC body brought no investment". ISLAMABAD: Dawn. APP. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  87. ^ Shahbaz Rana (18 August 2022). "PM gives nod to abolish CPEC Authority". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  88. ^ a b Shahzada Irfan Ahmed (3 September 2017). "CPEC is not a game-changer, it's game over" (Interview: Kaiser Bengali). The News on Sunday. The News International. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  89. ^ Saran, Shyam (10 September 2015). "What China's One Belt and One Road Strategy Means for India, Asia and the World". The Wire (India). Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  90. ^ Shabaz Rana (8 May 2022). "Only 3 CPEC projects in Gwadar completed". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  91. ^ a b "Industrial potential: Deep sea port in Gwadar would turn things around". The Express Tribune. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  92. ^ a b c d e Butt, Naveed (3 September 2015). "Economic Corridor: China to Extend Assistance at 1.6 Percent Interest Rate". Business Recorder. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  93. ^ "Gwadar-Nawabshah LNG project part of CPEC". The Nation. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  94. ^ Li, Yan. "Groundwork laid for China-Pakistan FTZ". ECNS. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  95. ^ "Economic Zone: Government Hands Gwadar Land over to China". Business Recorder. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  96. ^ "Gwadar Port to become distribution center for ME market: Zhang". Business Recorder. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2016. include bonded warehouses, manufacturing, international purchasing, transit and distribution transshipment, commodity display and supporting services and where the federal, provincial and local taxes
  97. ^ "Pakistan approves massive tax exemptions for Gwadar port operators". Express Tribune. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016. In a major move, the ECC approved a complete income tax holiday for 23 years to businesses that will be established in the Gwadar Free Zone... / A 23-year exemption from sales tax and federal excise duty has also been granted to businesses that will be established inside the Gwadar Free Zone. However, if these businesses make supplies and sales outside the free zone, they will be subject to taxation.
  98. ^ "Pakistan approves massive tax exemptions for Gwadar port operators". Express Tribune. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016. Under the move, the concession will extend to contractors and subcontractors and COPHCL companies for 20 years.
  99. ^ "Pakistan approves massive tax exemptions for Gwadar port operators". Express Tribune. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016. Pakistan approved customs duty exemption for the COPHCL, its operating companies, contractors and subcontractors for a period of 40 years on import of equipment, materials, plants, machinery, appliances, and accessories for the construction of Gwadar Port and the associated Free Zone.
  100. ^ Sial, Amer (27 August 2015). "China converts Rs 23b Gwadar Airport loan into grant". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  101. ^ "China to build Pakistan's largest airport at Gwadar". Daily Times. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 14 November 2015.
  102. ^ "China converts $230m loan for Gwadar airport into grant". Geo.tv. 23 September 2015.
  103. ^ a b c Haider, Mehtab (23 September 2015). "China converts $230m loan for Gwadar airport into grant". Geo TV. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  104. ^ "China kick-starts Pakistan's Gwadar East Bay Expressway". World Highway. 9 September 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  105. ^ Ranade, Jayadeva (30 June 2017). "Does the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Really Help Pakistan?". Liberal Studies. 2 (1): 33–41. ISSN 2688-9374. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  106. ^ "Pak China Friendship Hospital | China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Official Website". cpec.gov.pk.
  107. ^ a b "Rs12.13bn released for CPEC projects under PSDP 2019–20". Dunya News.
  108. ^ "Budget 2019–20: Gwadar gets over Rs 4 billion for uplift of projects". www.thenews.com.pk.
  109. ^ "PURCHASE OF POWER: PAYMENTS TO CHINESE COMPANIES TO BE FACILITATED THROUGH REVOLVING FUND". Business Recorder. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  110. ^ Shahbaz Rana (26 July 2015). "Eastern CPEC route unfeasible: report". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  111. ^ "Questions for Oral Answers and Their Replies" (PDF). Senate Secretariat. Question 126: Senate of Pakistan. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2016. From Havelian to Shah Maqsood Interchange, the proposed alignment of CPEC will overlap with the alignment of E-35. This section will be 15 km long and undertaken with ADB assistance as 4-Lane Motorway with 6-Lane structures... Shah Maqsood Interchange – Islamabad section will be 50  km long and constructed along a new alignment as 4-Lane Motorway with 6-Lane structures.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  112. ^ "Questions for Oral Answers and Their Replies" (PDF). Senate Secretariat. Question 126: Senate of Pakistan. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2016. "Shinkiari – Mansehra – Abbottabad section will be 50 km long and constructed as 4- Lane Expressway... Abbottabad – Havelian section will be 11  km in length and constructed as 4-Lane Motorway with 6-Lane structures." | Portion between Abbottabad and Havelian is now to be a dual carriageway rather than motorway.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  113. ^ a b "Questions for Oral Answers and Their Replies" (PDF). Senate Secretariat. Question 126: Senate of Pakistan. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2016. Raikot – Thakot section will be 280 km in length and constructed as a 2-Lane highway along a new alignment... Thakot – Shinkiari section will be 74  km in length wherein existing 2-Lane KKH will be upgraded and improved.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  114. ^ a b c "PM Sharif performs ground-breaking of Havelian-Thakot Motorway". The News Pakistan. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  115. ^ a b 133 billion Pakistan rupees equivalent to US$1.26 billion as of May 2016
  116. ^ a b c d e "CPEC eastern alignment: Pakistan, China ink agreements worth $4.2b". Tribune (Pakistan). 4 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  117. ^ "Questions for Oral Answers and Their Replies" (PDF). Senate Secretariat. Question 126: Senate of Pakistan. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2016. Raikot – Thakot section (2-Lane) 255.8 km; Feasibility Study Completed by Chinese Side. However, the Alignment falls under the Four Dams planned by WAPDA, namely; Bhasha, Dasu, Pattan, and Thakot. The Road construction is planned to commensurate with Dam Construction activities. In the meanwhile, the existing KKH is being improved in its present condition.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  118. ^ "NHA launches projects to improve KKH's condition". The News. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  119. ^ 7.5 billion PKR = 71.66 million USD as of 10 February 2016
  120. ^ "PM LAUNCHES KKH PROJECTS THANKS CHINA FOR ROAD NETWORKS UPGRADATION HELP". Pakistan Observer. 29 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  121. ^ "PM Nawaz inaugurates Pak-China Friendship Tunnels over Attabad Lake". Dawn. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  122. ^ "PM inaugurates tunnels over Attabad Lake in G-B". The Express Tribune. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  123. ^ "PM announces construction of Skardu-Gilgit road". Samaa TV. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  124. ^ note: 50 billion Pakistani Rupees = US$475 million as of December 2015
  125. ^ "First phase of Karachi-Lahore motorway launched". Dawn. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  126. ^ a b c d e "China's CSCEC to build $20000.9bn motorway in Pakistan as part of planned 'corridor'". Global Construction Review. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  127. ^ a b "Karachi-Lahore motorway: Project to be completed in 3 years". Pakistan Tribune. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015. 700 Billion Pak rupees = US$6.6 billion as of 16 December 2015
  128. ^ a b "Peshawar-Karachi Motorway". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  129. ^ "Nawaz Sharif to inaugurate Karachi-Lahore Motorway on Dec 19". Dispatch News Desk. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  130. ^ "Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway will be completed in 30 months: PM". Pakistan: The Nation. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  131. ^ "Nawaz inaugurates completed portion of Karachi-Hyderabad M-9 motorway". Dawn. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  132. ^ a b "Hyderabad-Sukkur section: China, S Korea lobbying for M-6 motorway". The Express Tribune. 28 July 2016.
  133. ^ "Karachi-Lahore motorway: Stakeholders unhappy with environment impact report". The Express Tribune. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  134. ^ a b "PAK PM inaugurates Sukkur-Multan highway". Business Standard. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  135. ^ "China's CSCEC to build $2.9bn motorway in Pakistan as part of planned 'corridor'". Global Construction Review.
  136. ^ Haider, Mehtab (28 May 2014). "Govt allocates Rs 73 billion for Pakistan-China trade corridor". The News. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  137. ^ Samar, Azeem (13 November 2015). "JCC of CPEC decides to enhance capacity of Thar power projects to 2,600 MW". The News. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  138. ^ Rana, Shahbaz (15 November 2015). "ECNEC clears motorway's Lahore-Multan section". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  139. ^ "Consortium Wins Pakistan Contract". The Wall Street Journal. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  140. ^ a b c Kiani, Khaleeq (16 December 2015). "Two Asian banks to give Rs 29bn for M-4 project". Dawn News. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  141. ^ "M-4 to Reduce Travel Time, Contribute to Trade Corridor". Pakistan Observer. 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  142. ^ "Ecnec approves 230 km [sic] Karachi-Lahore Motorway". Pakistan: The Nation. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  143. ^ a b "KP remained part of CPEC Western Route meetings at federal level". The News (Pakistan). 13 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  144. ^ "COAS Assures Balochistan People Will Prosper With Upcoming Projects". Geo News. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  145. ^ "PM Inaugurates Western Alignment of CPEC". Daily Frontier Star. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  146. ^ "China to finance 90% of Sukkur-Multan Motorway". Daily Times. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  147. ^ "CHINA – PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC) WESTERN ROUTE: NEW FOUR LANE HIGHWAY FACILITY FROM BARAHMA BAHTAR TO D. I. KHAN AS PART OF WESTERN ROUTE OF CHINA – PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC) 285 km APPROX., PACKAGES: I TO V." (PDF). National Highway Authority. National Highway Authority. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  148. ^ "PM Nawaz performs groundbreaking of Motorway in D.I Khan". The News. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  149. ^ Haider, Mehtab (24 April 2016). "Ecnec approves motorway from Burhan/Hakla to DI Khan". The News. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  150. ^ "Nawaz to open Gwadar-Turbat Highway project today". Business Recorder. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016. 110 billion Pakistani Rupees = US$1.05 billion as of 3 Feb 2016
  151. ^ a b "PARLIAMENTARY BODY MONITORING PROGRESS OF CPEC". Business Recorder. 9 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  152. ^ "Nawaz to open Gwadar-Turbat Highway project today". Business Recorder. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  153. ^ a b "PM inaugurates western route of CPEC in Zhob". Dawn. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  154. ^ "ADB approves $197million for Balochistan road project". Pakistan: The Nation. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  155. ^ a b c "ADB Provides $197 Million to Develop Highway in Balochistan". Asian Development Bank. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  156. ^ a b c "ADB to provide $72m for highways in Balochistan". Dawn. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  157. ^ "NHA completes work on 3 delayed projects in Balochistan". Pakistan Obserer. 22 January 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  158. ^ "PM inaugurates CPEC's western route in Zhob". Tribune Pakistan. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  159. ^ "PM INAUGURATES 193 km LONG GWADAR-HOSHAB M-8". Business Recorder. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  160. ^ "Pakistan to build CPEC western route by the middle of 2018". Economic Times (India). 15 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  161. ^ "Overcoming Challenges to CPEC". Spearhead Research. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  162. ^ "China's AIIB to co-finance first project with ADB in Pakistan". Reuters. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  163. ^ a b "M4 motorway: PM to inaugurate Gojra-Shorkot section today". The Express Tribune (Pakistan). 16 November 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  164. ^ a b "Asian Bank, UK to co-finance $327m in economic corridor". Daily Times. Pakistan. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  165. ^ "Pakistan, ADB sign $178m agreement for M-4 section". The Express Tribune (Pakistan). 23 October 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  166. ^ "Multibillion-dollar project: Nawaz inaugurates CPEC's western route". Daily Times. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  167. ^ "Feasibility study for rehab of Karachi-Peshawar rail line in progress". The Nation. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  168. ^ a b c d "Havelian to Khunjerab railway track to be upgraded under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor". Sost Today. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  169. ^ "Pakistan railway project hanging in balance as China delays finance". Ani News. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  170. ^ "PESHAWAR-KARACHI PR TRACK TO BE UPGRADED BY CHINA". Pakistan Observer. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015.
  171. ^ a b "21 Railway Stations to be upgraded in three years: Minister". Dispatch News Desk. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  172. ^ "Pakistan cuts CPEC investment in railways by USD 2 billion citing huge burden of loans". The Economic Times. 2 October 2018.
  173. ^ "Purchase of power: payments to Chinese companies to be facilitated through revolving fund". Business Recorder. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  174. ^ Bokhari, Farhan; Parkin, Benjamin (4 January 2023). "Pakistan taps Chinese credit for railway upgrade despite debt crisis". Financial Times. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  175. ^ "China unveils rail network upgrade, gas pipeline plans for Pakistan". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  176. ^ "Expansion and reconstruction of existing Line ML-1 | China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Official Website". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  177. ^ "Karachi-Peshawar railway line being upgraded under CPEC". Daily Times. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  178. ^ "Railway tracks to be built, upgraded as part of CPEC project: report". Dawn. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  179. ^ "New railway tracks planned under CPEC: Report". Pakistan Today. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  180. ^ a b "New railway tracks planned under CPEC: report". Dawn. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  181. ^ Mehtab Haider (28 May 2014). "Govt allocates Rs 73 billion for Pakistan-China trade corridor". thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014.
  182. ^ "CDWP approves uplift projects worth Rs 244bn". Dawn. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  183. ^ "Orange Line part of CPEC, LHC heard". 22 January 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016. – Orange Line Project is part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Punjab government told the Lahore High Court yesterday.
  184. ^ a b Siddiqui, Ahmed Hussain (13 July 2015). "CPEC projects: status, cost and benefits". Dawn. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  185. ^ "Rs 165bn Lahore metro train project approved". Dawn. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  186. ^ "Lahore joins the metro club". Railway Gazette.
  187. ^ Adnan, Imran (9 October 2015). "Work on Metro Train in Full Swing". Express Tribune (Pakistan). Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  188. ^ "Good news on track: Lahore to get Pakistan's first metro train". Express Tribune (Pakistan). 23 May 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  189. ^ "Annual Plan 2015–16" (PDF). Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform (Pakistan). p. 130. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  190. ^ "OVER 80 PERCENT INVESTMENT UNDER CPEC TO COME THROUGH PRIVATE SECTOR: AHSAN". Business Recorder. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016. The minister said out of the total investment of US$46 billion, US$38 billion would be spent on energy related projects which was on independent power producer (IPP) mode and would not increase burden of national debt.
  191. ^ a b Shoaib-ur-Rehman Siddiqui (17 April 2015). "1ST PHASE OF CPEC TO BRING $35BN INVESTMENT IN ENERGY: AHSAN IQBAL". Business Recorder.
  192. ^ "The pandemic is hurting China's Belt and Road Initiative". The Economist. 4 June 2020.
  193. ^ Fazl-e Haider, Syed (29 July 2020). "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  194. ^ "Faced with Blackouts, Pakistan's Largest Public Park Goes Solar". Voice of America. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  195. ^ a b "Pak-China 900 MW Solar Power Project agreed to expedite". The News Teller. 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  196. ^ Butt, Riaz (26 July 2015). "In Pakistan, Chinese firm helps ease an energy crisis". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  197. ^ a b c "World's largest solar park to light up Pakistan's future". Dawn. No. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  198. ^ "Turkish firm sells power in Pakistan". Hürriyet Daily News. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  199. ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (2 April 2015). "6,000MW power project accords to be signed during Xi's visit". Dawn. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  200. ^ Kundi, Imran Ali (18 July 2015). "18 projects under CPEC to generate 13,880 MW". Pakistan: The Nation. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  201. ^ "China invests $115 million to develop wind energy in Pakistan". The Nation. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  202. ^ "Deal signed for 870 MW hydropower project". Nation. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  203. ^ "Pakistan, China ink 51 MoUs". Daily Times. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  204. ^ "Azad Pattan Hydropower – Business". Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  205. ^ Poon, Daniel (8 December 2015). "China's partnerships could lead the way". Asia and the Pacific Policy Society. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  206. ^ "Govt seeks Bhasha Dam inclusion in CPEC". The Nation. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  207. ^ "DIAMIR BHASHA DAM LIKELY TO BE PART OF CPEC: AHSAN". Business Recorder. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  208. ^ Rana, Shahbaz (15 November 2017). "Pakistan stops bid to include Diamer-Bhasha Dam in CPEC". tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  209. ^ "PURCHASE OF POWER: PAYMENTS TO CHINESE COMPANIES TO BE FACILITATED THROUGH REVOLVING FUND". Business Recorder. 5 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  210. ^ "Deal worth $2.4b signed for Kohala power project". The Express Tribune. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  211. ^ "China to construct 1,124-megawatt power project in PoK under CPEC". The Economic Times. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  212. ^ "Azad Kashmir: Bringing Water, Power & Beauty to Pakistan & CPEC". 6 October 2020.
  213. ^ a b c d "Four mega projects under CPEC launched". The Nation. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  214. ^ "Hubco's power project on track". Dawn. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  215. ^ "CPEC PSDP Funded Projects | China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Official Website". cpec.gov.pk.
  216. ^ a b "Second unit of Sahiwal power plant being inaugurated today". The Nation. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  217. ^ Liu, Youliang (9 March 2015). "Application For a Generation License of Huaneng Shandong Ruyi (Pakistan) Energy (Private) Limited For Its 2 X 660 MW Imported Coal Fired Power Project at Sahiwal, Pakistan" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 235. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  218. ^ Huaneng Shandong Ruyi (Pakistan) Energy (Pvt.) Limited. "LAG-292 Huaneng Shandong Generation License" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  219. ^ "Nepra accepts tariff petition of Chinese firm for power plant". Pakistan: The Nation. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  220. ^ "TARIFF REVIEW PETITION FOR 1X330 MW LOCAL COAL FIRED POWER PROJECT IN PIND DADAN KHAN, SALT RANGE, PUNJAB" (PDF). NEPRA. pp. See table on pages 19–20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  221. ^ "'Under pressure' Nepra may okay excessive tariff for CMEC". The Nation. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  222. ^ "TARIFF REVIEW PETITION FOR 1X330 MW LOCAL COAL FIRED POWER PROJECT IN PIND DADAN KHAN, SALT RANGE, PUNJAB" (PDF). NEPRA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016. In addition, the Authority did not include the transportation or beneficiation cost required for Salt Range in the assumed price of US$86.95/t (assuming the per Mm [million] btu price of Thar coal). Since the 6/20 Petitioner has assumed an average of 50 km transportation distance from the coal mines to the power plant, the transportation costs will work out to be US$13.5, assuming the transportation cost of US$0.27/t/km approved for Thar coal. This plus the assumed levelized beneficiation cost of US$11/t required for Salt Range coal, will work out to be US$111.45/t. From the above analysis, it is clear that in light of the approved coal price for Thar Coal, and the much smaller production scale and additional transportation & beneficiation costs required for Salt Range coal, the Petitioner's assumed coal price US$111.86/t in its tariff petition is reasonable and justified.
  223. ^ "Progress on Thar coal projects". Dawn. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  224. ^ a b "Shanghai govt sign Thar coal power project". Dunya TV. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  225. ^ "LOI signed with Chinese company for 1320 MW project at Thar". Pakistan Today. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  226. ^ "Pakistan, China sign LoI to set up". The News (Pakistan). 22 August 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  227. ^ Mirza, Javed (30 January 2015). "Govt approves upfront tariffs for Thar coal-fired power projects". The News (Pakistan). Retrieved 14 March 2016. Nepra has notified upfront tariff of 8.5015 cents/unit for Thar coal-based power projects of 330 megawatts on foreign financing, while tariff for similar capacity projects on local financing has been fixed at 9.5643cents/unit. The upfront tariff will be 8.3341 cents/unit for coal-fired power projects of 660 megawatts on foreign financing, while tariff for similar capacity projects on local financing has been fixed at 9.5668 cents/unit. The upfront tariff will be 7.9889 cents/unit for power projects of 1,099 megawatts on foreign financing, while tariff for similar capacity projects on local financing has been fixed at 9.1368 cents/unit.
  228. ^ Haq, Shahram (20 March 2015). "Chinese bank promises $1b for Thar coal mining". Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 August 2016. The cost of electricity for the initial 10 years will be 8.5 cents per unit and when the loan period ends, the cost will come down to 6 cents per unit.
  229. ^ "China Machinery Engineering to fund Pakistan coal projects". China Daily. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  230. ^ "Thar coal field's Block-II achieves financial close". The News Pakistan. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016. The production of remaining 660 megawatts from block-II will begin by the end of 2018 or by the beginning of 2019 while the mining and energy projects in block-I and block-VI of Thar will also reach their financial close this year," said the official.
  231. ^ Rapoza, Kenneth (19 February 2016). "China Shutters Coal Mines at Home, Opens $2 Bln Mining Project in Pakistan". Forbes. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  232. ^ Shoh Han, Tih (9 April 2015). "Chinese and Qatari firms to build coal power plant in Pakistan". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  233. ^ Shih, Toh Han (9 April 2015). "Chinese firm in US$2.09 billion Pakistan power plant deal". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  234. ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (14 February 2015). "Nepra approves upfront tariff for Port Qasim plant". Dawn. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  235. ^ "PM opens over 1,300 MW Port Qasim coal-fired power project". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  236. ^ Bhatti, Sohail Iqbal (30 September 2015). "Chinese company to build LNG, gas pipeline projects in Pakistan". Dawn News. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  237. ^ Bhatti, Sohail (30 September 2015). "Chinese company to build LNG, gas pipeline projects in Pakistan". Dawn. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  238. ^ "Financial bid for Gwadar LNG Terminal to be opened this week". Pakistan Today. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  239. ^ Kamal, Maha (Fall–Winter 2015). "Dynamics of Natural Gas Pricing: The Critical Need For a Natural Gas Hub in South Asia". Journal of International Affairs. 69 (1): 81.
  240. ^ "Russia and Pakistan to construct $2bn gas pipeline". Hydrocarbons Technology. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  241. ^ a b Zain, Ali (9 October 2015). "PM Nawaz inaugurates 1180 MW Bhikhi Power Plant in Sheikhupura". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  242. ^ a b "GE and Harbin to Provide Large, High-Efficiency Gas Power Plant to Help Meet Energy Demand in Pakistan". Business Wire – A Berkshire Hathaway Company. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  243. ^ a b "1,180MW Bhikki plant starts full power generation". The Nation. 22 May 2018.
  244. ^ "1223 MW Plant Up In Pakistan". 31 July 2018.
  245. ^ "PAKISTAN PM Nawaz inaugurates Balloki power project, which would add 1223 MW". The News Teller. 10 November 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  246. ^ "Tarbela 4th extension project starts power production – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  247. ^ "Pakistan orders completion of two hydel projects by June". The Siasast Daily. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  248. ^ "Tajik Energy Ministry: CASA-1000 project implementation to be launched this year". AzerNews.az. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  249. ^ "NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT: "UNSTARRED QUESTIONS AND THEIR REPLIES"" (PDF). 10 December 2015. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  250. ^ "Suki Kinari: Landowners threaten to resist acquisition for hydropower project". The Express Tribune (Pakistan). 19 February 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  251. ^ "Karot Hydropower Plant to be put into commercial operation". 24 January 2020.
  252. ^ Tiezzi, Shannon (13 January 2016). "China Powers up Pakistan: The Energy Component of the CPEC". The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  253. ^ "Pakistan unveils long-term CPEC cooperation plan – The Express Tribune". 29 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  254. ^ "CPEC to introduce technology in agriculture – The Express Tribune". 9 May 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  255. ^ "Let's teach them to fish". www.thenews.com.pk.
  256. ^ a b c d e f g h i "New Gwadar International Airport". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  257. ^ a b "Logistic, Tech Park to be built for $1.5 billion as part of CPEC". The Express Tribune. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  258. ^ "PM inaugurates Pakistan-China Fiber Optic project". The News. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  259. ^ "Cross Border Optical Fiber Cable | China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Official Website". cpec.gov.pk.
  260. ^ "Optic fibre cable connecting Pakistan, China to be inaugurated today". The Express Tribune. 13 July 2018.
  261. ^ "China builds Digital Silk Road in Pakistan to Africa and Europe". asia.nikkei.com. NIKKEI Asia. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  262. ^ "Pilot Project of Digital Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcast (DTMB) | China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Official Website". www.cpec.gov.pk.
  263. ^ "ZTE to provide DTMB broadcasting infrastructure for Pakistan's PTV". Digital TV News.
  264. ^ a b Haider, Mehtab (23 September 2015). "China converts $230m loan for Gwadar airport into grant". Geo TV News. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  265. ^ "Economic corridor: China to extend assistance at 1.6 percent interest rate". Business Recorder. 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  266. ^ a b "World Bank Group Finances". World Bank Group.
  267. ^ "Lending interest rate (%)". Data | The World Bank.
  268. ^ "Chinese railway company wins bid for Karachi-Lahore motorway". Express Tribune (Pakistan). 10 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  269. ^ "Govt's borrowing frenzy continues". Pakistan Today. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  270. ^ Rana, Shahbaz (3 July 2014). "ECNEC approves construction of 387 km leg of Karachi-Lahore motorway". Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  271. ^ Rana, Shahbaz (16 April 2015). "Eastern corridor route: Pakistan, China to sign infrastructure financing deals". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  272. ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (13 August 2015). "Chinese firms to get contracts for two CPEC projects". Dawn News. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  273. ^ "$8.2b railtrack upgrade project wins go-ahead". Express Tribune. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016. According to the project documents, the cost of upgrading of Pakistan Railways existing Mainline (ML-I) and establishment of a dry port near Havelian is $8.2 billion, which the Chinese government will finance with a $7 billion concessionary loan.
  274. ^ Rana, Shahbad (5 May 2015). "Concessionary loan from China: After Metro bus, Lahore could see Metro train". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  275. ^ Naveed Butt (3 September 2015). "Economic corridor: China to extend assistance at 1.6 percent interest rate". Business Recorder. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
  276. ^ a b "Chinese-led consortium termed lowest bidder for power project". Dawm. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  277. ^ "PM performs groundbreaking of 1,223 MW plant". Dawn. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  278. ^ a b "CPEC made part of China's 13th 5-year development plan: Weidong". Pakistan Today. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  279. ^ a b "China's landmark investments in Pakistan". The Express Tribune. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  280. ^ "CPEC has changed economic outlook of Pakistan, S Asia". www.thenews.com.pk.
  281. ^ Chaudhary, Asif (5 December 2016). "What Pakistan gains from CPEC".
  282. ^ Mourdoukoutas, Panos. "China Wants Russia To Calm India And Save CPEC". Forbes. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  283. ^ Sukumar, Arun Mohan. "What the Marshall Plan Can Teach India About the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor". thewire.in. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  284. ^ Mehwish Qayyum Durani; Muhammad Bashir Khan (2018). "The Environmental Impact of The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): A Case Study". Abasyn Journal of Social Sciences. 11 (1): 201–221. ISSN 1998-152X.
  285. ^ Abdul Waheed; Thomas Bernward Fischer; Muhammad Irfan Khan (May 2021). "Climate Change Policy Coherence across Policies, Plans, and Strategies in Pakistan—Implications for the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor Plan" (PDF). Environmental Management. 67 (5): 793–810. doi:10.1007/s00267-021-01449-y. ISSN 0364-152X. PMC 8032581. PMID 33730192. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  286. ^ Jillani, Shahzeb (23 November 2022). "Analysis: China's shifting energy investments in Pakistan, from coal to renewables". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  287. ^ "CPEC Documentary in Urdu 🇵🇰|🇨🇳 China-Pakistan Economic Corridor". YouTube. PTV Parliament. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  288. ^ "Essay on China Pakistan Economic Corridor". 17 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  289. ^ Usman W. Chohan (May 2015). "Geostrategic Location and the Economic Center of Gravity of the World". McGill University Economic Publications.
  290. ^ "Pakistan media hails Chinese investments as 'game-changer'". The Times of India. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  291. ^ "One-on-one meeting between Mamnoon Hussain and his Chinese counterpart was followed by delegation level talks". Radio Pakistan. 21 April 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  292. ^ "MUCH OF INVESTMENT, $35 BILLION OF WHICH WILL GO TO ENERGY PROJECTS, WILL BE IN FORM OF DISCOUNTED LOANS". Newsweek Pakistan. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  293. ^ Fingar, Courtney (11 March 2016). "Pakistan's FDI: fuelled by China". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  294. ^ "Pakistani Govt announces no load-shedding at 5297 feeders across Pakistan". Geo News. Retrieved 18 December 2017. Pakistani Govt announces no load-shedding at 5297 feeders across Pakistan.
  295. ^ Rana, Imran (2 May 2015). "Complaint registered: Energy crisis crippling textile sector". The Tribune (Pakistan). Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  296. ^ "Pakistan Sees Growth Surging to 7% as China Invests Billions". Bloomberg. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  297. ^ Hartogs, Jessica (17 May 2016). "China-Pakistan railroad will help curb extremism: Ex-Pakistan PM". CNBC. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  298. ^ "Pakistan Overview". World Bank. Retrieved 19 May 2016. Pakistan faces significant economic, governance and security challenges to achieve durable development outcomes. The persistence of conflict in the border areas and security challenges throughout the country affect all aspects of life in Pakistan and impedes development.
  299. ^ "AWARDS Change is afoot in Pakistan's banking sector". World Finance. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  300. ^ "China president arrives in Pakistan to sign £30bn 'land corridor' agreement". The Guardian. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  301. ^ "Sovereign ratings: Pak-China economic corridor a 'credit positive', says Moody's". The Express Tribune. 3 March 2015.
  302. ^ Brunner, Hans-Peter (August 2013). "What is Economic Corridor Development and What Can It Achieve in Asia's Subregions?" (PDF). ADB Working Paper Series on Regional Economic Integration.
  303. ^ "Hyatt (H) Reveals Large-Scale Expansion Plans in Pakistan". NASDAQ.com. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  304. ^ "Pakistan will be paying China $90b against CPEC-related projects – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  305. ^ a b "Is China-Pakistan 'silk road' a game-changer?". BBC. No. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  306. ^ a b c Ramachandran, Sudha (31 July 2015). "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Road to Riches?". China Brief (The Jamestown Foundation). 15 (15). Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  307. ^ Chowdhary, Mawish (25 August 2015). "China's Billion-Dollar Gateway to the Subcontinent: Pakistan May Be Opening A Door It Cannot Close". Forbes. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  308. ^ "Exclusive: China sends surface-to-air missiles to contested island in provocative move". Fox News Channel. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  309. ^ Alam, Omar (21 December 2015). "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Towards a New 'Heartland'?". International Relations and Security Network. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  310. ^ Garlick, Jeremy (2018). "Deconstructing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: pipe dreams versus geopolitical realities". Journal of Contemporary China. 27 (112): 519–533. doi:10.1080/10670564.2018.1433483. S2CID 158778555.
  311. ^ Fazl-e-Haider, Syed (5 March 2015). "A Strategic Seaport – Is Pakistan Key to China's Energy Supremacy?". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  312. ^ Malhotra, Aditi (8 June 2015). "CPEC and China's Western Development Strategy". South Asian Voices. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  313. ^ "Trade through land routes". Dawn. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  314. ^ Haidar, Suhasini (30 April 2015). "Pakistan must open Wagah for trade: Ghani". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  315. ^ "Pakistan reluctant to include India in APTTA". Dawn. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  316. ^ "Government to revive quadrilateral accord with China: Dastgir". Business Recorder. 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  317. ^ "Afghanistan ready to grant Pakistan access to Central Asia". Pakistan Today. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  318. ^ "Kazakhstan shows willingness to join CPEC project". The News. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  319. ^ a b Bhutta, Zafar. "Pakistan could turn into a transit trade hub". The Tribune (Pakistan). Retrieved 23 January 2016. During a visit to Pakistan in the middle of this month, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon praised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), insisting the project would facilitate economic and trade links between Pakistan and Tajikistan as well as other Central Asian states. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on his part, made an offer to Tajikistan to use Pakistan's seaports for imports and exports as these provide the shortest route for movement of goods. The premier backed Tajikistan's request for being part of the Quadrilateral Agreement on Traffic in Transit among China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan – an arrangement that will further improve regional connectivity.
  320. ^ "Belt and road initiative". The Daily Star. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  321. ^ Pantucci, Raffaello (12 February 2016). "The tangled threads in China's Silk Road strategy". Business Spectator. Retrieved 17 February 2016. Similarly, in Uzbekistan, the plan to develop train lines from Tashkent through Ferghana to Kyrgyzstan points to a project that will help develop faster train links across Central Asia to China.
  322. ^ a b "India, Iran moving forward on redeveloping Chabahar port". The Journal of Commerce. 9 May 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016. According to the provisional deal, IPGPL will refurbish a 640-meter (2,100-foot) container handling facility through deployment of new equipment, including four rail-mounted gantry cranes, 16 rubber-tire gantry cranes, two reach stackers and two empty handlers. For the rebuilding of a 600-meter (1,969-foot) multi-purpose berth at Chabahar, Indian authorities will invest in six mobile harbor cranes, 10 forklifts and 10 trailers.
  323. ^ "India to invest $500 million on Chabahar port in Iran for easy access to Afghanistan, Europe". India Today. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  324. ^ Ghoshal, Devjyot (6 February 2017). "Unending wait for Chabahar: India and Iran squabble over a key port, under Trump's long shadow". Quartz. Retrieved 8 February 2017. Nine months on, Chabahar seems dead in the water: The Indian and Iranian governments are now squabbling over delays, even as newly-elected US president Donald Trump's hawkish stance towards Tehran threatens to hamstring the project. The ongoing diplomatic finger-pointing is a curious affair. Indian officials insist that New Delhi has $150 million ready for disbursement but the Iranians haven't completed the paperwork necessary to release the funds, The Economic Times newspaper reported. The Iranians told the newspaper that the delay was from the Indian side, without explaining further.
  325. ^ Gupta, Shishir (23 May 2016). "Why the Chabahar Port agreement kills two birds with one stone". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  326. ^ "How significant is India's $500 million deal with Iran?". Christian Science Monitor. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016. But India's additional investment pales in comparison to China's pledge of $46 billion to develop the Pakistani port of Gwadar, not even 125 miles [200 km] from Chabahar, along with an accompanying network of railways, pipelines, and roads to connect with western China.
  327. ^ "List of Agreements/MOUs signed during the visit of Prime Minister to Iran (May 23. 2016)". Ministry of External Affairs (India). Retrieved 26 May 2016. MoU between EXIM Bank and Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization [PMO] oncurrent specific terms for the Chabahar Port project This MoU is intended for the purpose of credit of USD 150 million for Chabahar port. Mr. Yaduvendra Mathur, Chairman, EXIM Bank H. E. Mr Saeednejad, Chairman of Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran.
  328. ^ "List of Agreements/MOUs signed during the visit of Prime Minister to Iran (May 23. 2016)". Ministry of External Affairs (India). Retrieved 26 May 2016. 6. Bilateral contract on Chabahar Port for port development and operations between IPGPL [India Ports Global Private Limited] and Arya Banader of Iran The contract envisages development and operation for 10 years of two terminals and 5 berths with cargo handling [multipurpose and general] capacities.
  329. ^ a b "India, Iran and Afghanistan sign Chabahar port agreement". Hindustan Times. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  330. ^ "Five things about Chabahar Port and how India gains from it". Economic Times. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  331. ^ "List of Agreements/MOUs signed during the visit of Prime Minister to Iran (May 23. 2016)". Ministry of External Affairs (India). Retrieved 26 May 2016. Confirmation Statement between EXIM Bank and Central Bank of Iran This confirms the availability of credit up to INR 3000 crore for the import of steel rails and implementation of Chabahar port.
  332. ^ "List of Agreements/MOUs signed during the visit of Prime Minister to Iran (May 23. 2016)". Ministry of External Affairs (India). Retrieved 26 May 2016. MoU between IRCON and Construction, Development of Transport and Infrastructure Company (CDTIC) of Iran MoU will enable IRCON to provide requisite services for the construction of Chabahar-Zahedan railway line which forms part of transit and transportation corridor in trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan. Services to be provided by IRCON include all superstructure work and financing the project (around USD 1.6 billion).
  333. ^ "India commits huge investment in Chabahar". The Hindu. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  334. ^ "India may invest Rs 2 lakh crore at Chabahar port in Iran: Nitin Gadkari". Economic Times. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2016. "India is ready to invest Rs 2 lakh crore at Chabahar SEZ in Iran but the investments would depend on gas prices as India wants it to be lowered," Gadkari said... On talks on supply of natural gas, Gadkari said that Iran has offered gas to India at $2.95 per million British thermal unit to set up urea plant at the Chabahar port but India is negotiating the gas price, demanding lowering the same... India, which imports around 8–9 million tonnes of the nitrogenous fertiliser, is negotiating for a price of $1.5 per mm [million] Btu with the Persian Gulf nation in a move which if successful will see a significant decline in the country's Rs 80,000 crore subsidy for the soil nutrient.
  335. ^ "India may invest Rs 2 lakh crore at Chabahar port in Iran: Nitin Gadkari". Economic Times. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  336. ^ "India, Iran ink pact to develop Chabahar port, aluminium plant". Business Standard. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  337. ^ "India, Iran ink pact to develop Chabahar port, aluminium plant". Business Standard. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016. state-owned Nalco signed an MoU to look at possibility of setting up a 0.5 million tonne aluminium smelter at Chabahar free trade zone provided Iran gives cheap natural gas.
  338. ^ "Undeterred India for moving ahead with Iran". The Hindu. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  339. ^ Tembarai Krishnamachari, Rajesh. "Entente Tri-parti : Triangular Alliances Involving India", South Asia Analysis Group, Paper 829, Nov 2003.
  340. ^ "North-South Corridor from Russia to India to compete with Suez Canal". Russia Beyond the Headlines. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  341. ^ "Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement 2010" (PDF). Pakistan Ministry of Commerce. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016. Pakistan will facilitate Afghan exports to India through Wagha. Afghan cargo will be off loaded on to Indian trucks back to back at Wagha and the trucks on return will not carry Indian Exports.
  342. ^ "Afghanistan 2016". Index of Economic Freedom. The Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  343. ^ "Chabahar deal 'not finished'; Pakistan, China welcome, says Iran". Indian Express. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  344. ^ "Gwadar and Chabahar not enemy ports: Iranian ambassador". Pakistan Today. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016. Ahmed Safee, a research fellow at the ISSI, quoted the Iranian envoy as saying that the deal is still on the table for both Pakistan and China, assuring that 'Chabahar is not a rival to Gwadar'. The ambassador added that both are sister ports, and Chabahar port authorities would extend cooperation to Gwadar. "The deal is not finished. We are waiting for new members. Pakistan, our brotherly neighbours and China, a great partner of the Iranians and a good friend of Pakistan, are both welcome," said the envoy.
  345. ^ Yousaf, Kamran (27 May 2016). "Iran offers Pakistan to join Chabahar port deal". Express Tribune. Retrieved 27 May 2016. Honardost went on to say that Pakistan and China were offered to join the Chahbahar port development deal before India. However, both Pakistan and China did not show any interest, he added.
  346. ^ "Chabahar deal 'not finished'; Pakistan, China welcome, says Iran". The Indian Express. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016. The offer to cooperate had first been extended to Pakistan and then China, implying neither had expressed interest, he said while speaking on Pakistan-Iran relations at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad (ISSI)
  347. ^ "Iran eager to join CPEC". Dawn News. Dawn News. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  348. ^ "Iran drops India from Chabahar rail project". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  349. ^ "Iran denies 'dropping' India from key railway project". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  350. ^ "Iran dismisses report of 'dropping' India from Chabahar railway project | India News". The Times of India. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  351. ^ "India, Iran sign MoU on developing Chabahar port". Live Mint. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  352. ^ Jorisch, Avi. "Port of Damaged Goods: India's Dangerous Investment in Iran's Chahabar". Forbes. Retrieved 11 August 2016. But additionally, India's bet on Afghanistan or Chabahar may turn out to be a poor choice. Afghanistan remains politically unstable. Any government that comes to power after the 2014 elections, if led by the Taliban or another Pakistani-supported political faction, may not be as enamored of increased trade with Iran or India as the current government is. And Chabahar is located in one of Iran's most explosive regions, where the Sunni Baloch insurgents have carried out repeated attacks against the regime in recent years.
  353. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (19 April 2016). "More Than 14 Years After U.S. Invasion, the Taliban Control Large Parts of Afghanistan". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  354. ^ "India, Iran and Afghanistan Sign Chabahar Port Agreement". Hindustan Times. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016. From Chabahar port, the existing Iranian road network can link up to Zaranj in Afghanistan. This road can then connect to the 218-km Zaranj-Delaram road – constructed by India in 2009 at a cost of Rs 680 crore – and finally to Afghanistan's Garland highway.
  355. ^ "ALIBAN'S NEW COMMANDO FORCE TESTS AFGHAN ARMY'S STRENGTH". Associated Press. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016. In recent weeks, the Taliban have taken huge swaths of the province and now they appear to be closing in on the capital, Lashkar Gah.
  356. ^ "10pm News Bulletin". TOLOnews. 8 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016. The closure of Helmand-Kandahar Highway for the past four days – due to the presence of Taliban in parts of Helmand province – has created numerous challenges for battle-weary residents.
  357. ^ Pandey, Kalyani (4 August 2016). "Afghanistan Taliban militants attack foreign tourists 10 killed". International Business Times. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  358. ^ Abbas, Syed Sammer (23 September 2016). "Iran wants to be part of CPEC, says Rouhani". Dawn. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  359. ^ "Chinese Navy Ships To Be Deployed At Gwadar Port: Pak Official". NDTV.com.
  360. ^ "Pakistan Navy's special 'Task Force-88' set up to guard Gwadar port's sea lanes". 13 December 2016.
  361. ^ "Pakistan Navy's special task force for CPEC maritime security inaugurated". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  362. ^ that the army will deploy 12,000 troops to protect CPEC.
  363. ^ "Two maritime patrol vessels arrive at Gwadar Port from China – Pakistan – Dunya News". dunyanews.tv.
  364. ^ "Special security division formed for CPEC's security – Pakistan – Dunya News". dunyanews.tv.
  365. ^ "Pakistan Wants to Become China's Newest Superhighway to Europe". Bloomberg. 1 April 2015.
  366. ^ "Economic corridor: 12,000-strong force to guard Chinese workers". The Express Tribune. 30 March 2015.
  367. ^ "Xi hails Pakistan security help in China; Pakistan vows more". Reuters. 21 April 2015.
  368. ^ "Army assigned security of Chinese engineers". The Express Tribune. 22 April 2015.
  369. ^ Maqbool Ahmed (September 2018). "The mysterious case of land acquisitions in Balochistan". Herald. Dawn Media Group. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  370. ^ "Pakistan to host international conference on maritime economy – Pakistan – Dunya News". dunyanews.tv.
  371. ^ Abbas, Syed Sammer (22 September 2016). "Iran wants to be part of CPEC, says Rouhani".
  372. ^ Parashar, Sachin (19 December 2016). "Russia supports China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project: Russian envoy Alexey Y Dedov". The Economic Times.
  373. ^ "China hands over 2 ships to Pak navy to secure Gwadar port". 15 January 2017.
  374. ^ Khurram Husain (29 September 2016). "Hidden costs of CPEC". Pakistan: DAWN. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  375. ^ a b c Kiyya Baloch (17 December 2014). "Can China's Gwadar Port Dream Survive Local Ire?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  376. ^ Kiyya Baloch (27 March 2015). "Chinese Operations in Balochistan Again Targeted by Militants". The Diplomat. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  377. ^ a b "RAW Is Training 600 Balochis in Afghanistan". Outlook. 24 April 2006.
  378. ^ Singh, Raj (12 July 2016). "India must extend support to our freedom struggle: Baluchistan separatist leader Hyrbyair Marri". India TV. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  379. ^ "Balochistan sees 'substantial drop' in violence". Express Tribune. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  380. ^ "Good performance: Balochistan witnesses 50% decline in sectarian violence". Express Tribune. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2017. Official documents show that acts of terrorism as well as sectarian and targeted killings have gone down by 50 per cent in Balochistan over the last two years under Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch's administration.
  381. ^ "More than 800 suspected militants have surrendered in Balochistan during past year". Dawn. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  382. ^ "202 militants surrender arms to Baluchistan CM". The Nation. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  383. ^ "Top BLA commander surrenders". The Nation. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  384. ^ "Mass surrender: Up to 24 militants lay down weapons". Express Tribune. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  385. ^ "Top Baloch rebel commander, others surrender". The Nation. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  386. ^ "Pakistani Security Forces Credited For Decline in Militant Attacks". 10 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  387. ^ Chinese Troops Will Be Positioned In Pakistan, Security Agencies Tell Government 13 March 2016
  388. ^ "Violence-related fatalities in Balochistan, Punjab increased in 2016". Dawn. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  389. ^ a b "Pakistan violence drops significantly in 2016: report". AFP. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  390. ^ "FEATURES Pakistan is winning its war on terror". The Spectator (UK). 31 December 2016.
  391. ^ "Fatalities in Terrorist Violence in Pakistan 2003–2017". South Asia Terrorism Portal. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  392. ^ Beckley, Michael (22 February 2012). "China and Pakistan: Fair-Weather Friends". Yale Journal of International Affairs. 7 (1). Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  393. ^ Zahid Gishkori (3 April 2018). "Pakistan mounts secret raids in hunt for Chinese militants". ISLAMABAD: The News International. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  394. ^ Panda, Ankit (18 July 2014). "India Faces off With Pakistan, China on Disputed Kashmir Borders". The Diplomat. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  395. ^ "India, Pakistan border guards violate cease-fire on Kashmir border". Xinhua News Agency. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  396. ^ "RAW at frontline to sabotage Economic Corridor, China warns Pakistan". The Express Tribune. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  397. ^ "Indian was seeking to disrupt CPEC". Business Recorder. 26 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  398. ^ "Kulbhushan Jadhav Kidnapped From Iran, No Evidence Against Him, Says India". NDTV.com.
  399. ^ "India out to sabotage CPEC: Raheel". Dawn. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  400. ^ "RAW runs special cell to sabotage CPEC, says secretary defence". Dawn. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  401. ^ Dutta, Prabhash K. (17 July 2019). "ICJ verdict on Kulbhushan Jadhav: What went in India's favour and against". India Today. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  402. ^ "Jadhav Case Judgment of 17 July 2019 by International Court of Justice" (PDF).
  403. ^ "China gets 40-year rights at Pakistani port". The Jakarta Post. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  404. ^ a b "Gwadar Gets Pak-China Friendship Hospital and Desalination Plant". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  405. ^ "Pak-China vocational institute opens in Gwadar". www.dawn.com. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  406. ^ "Gwadar airport's new inauguration date unveiled". arynews.tv. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  407. ^ a b "western-route". cpec.gov. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  408. ^ "PM inaugurates Gwadar-Hoshab (M-8) portion of CPEC". tribune.com.pk. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  409. ^ "Zhob – Quetta (Kuchlak) (N-50)". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  410. ^ "KKH Phase II (Thakot -Havelian Section)". cpec.gov. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  411. ^ "Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (Multan-Sukkur Section)". cpec.gov. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  412. ^ "Hakla – D.I Khan Motorway". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  413. ^ "NHA completes key link road in Balochistan". gwadarpro.pk. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  414. ^ "Orange Line – Lahore". BBC News. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  415. ^ "Expansion And Reconstruction of Existing Line ML-1". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  416. ^ "Kohala Hydel Project, AJK". Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  417. ^ "Azad Pattan Hydel Project, AJK". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  418. ^ "Hydro China Dawood 50 MW Wind Farm (Gharo, Thatta)". 10 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  419. ^ "Karot Hydropower Station". tribune.com.pk/. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  420. ^ "2×660 MW Coal-Fired Power Plants at Port Qasim Karachi". Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  421. ^ "UEP 100MW Wind Farm (Jhimpir, Thatta)". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  422. ^ "Sachal 50 MW Wind Farm (Jhimpir, Thatta)". Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  423. ^ "Three Gorges Second Wind Power Project Three Gorges Third Wind Power Project". Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  424. ^ "Progress Update | China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Official Website". cpec.gov.pk.
  425. ^ "CPHGC 1,320MW Coal-Fired Power Plant, Hub, Balochistan". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  426. ^ "Suki Kinari Hydropower Station, Naran, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa". tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  427. ^ "Engro Thar Block II 2×330MW Coal fired Power Plant". cpec.gov.pk. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  428. ^ "SSRL Thar Coal Block-I 6.8 mtpa & Power Plant(2×660MW) (Shanghai Electric)". cpec.gov. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  429. ^ a b "Another coal-fired 330MW ThalNova power plant synchronized with national grid" (PDF). hubpower.com. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  430. ^ "Matiari to Lahore ±660kV HVDC Transmission Line Project". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  431. ^ "First shovel of coal in Thar Block 1 huge step forward". geo.tv. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  432. ^ "Surface Mine in Block II of Thar Coal Field, 3.8 Million Tons/Year". cpec.gov. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  433. ^ "Thar Block II Expansion Set To Become Cheapest Fuel Source For Pakistan". www.secmc.com.pk. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  434. ^ "SECMC Reaches Milestone Production Of 7.6m Tons In Phase 2 Of Expansion". www.secmc.com.pk. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  435. ^ a b Kiani, Khaleeq (14 January 2019). "Govt puts major CPEC power project on hold". dawn.com.
  436. ^ "Pakistan To Build 300 MW Solar Power Plant In Gwadar Instead Of Coal plant". www.saurenergy.com. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  437. ^ Amer Rajput; Ahsen Maqsoom; Syed Waqas Ali Shah; Fahim Ullah; Hafiz Suliman Munawar; Muhammad Sami Ur Rehman; Muhammad Sami Ur Rehman (2022). "Impact of Political, Social Safety, and Legal Risks and Host Country Attitude towards Foreigners on Project Performance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)". Buildings. Towards Smart Tech 4.0 in the Built Environment: Applications of Disruptive Digital Technologies in Smart Cities, Construction, and Real Estate. 12 (6). Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad: 760. doi:10.3390/buildings12060760.
  438. ^ a b Shah Meer Baloch (20 August 2021). "Protests in Pakistan erupt against China's belt and road plan". The Guardian. Islamabad. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  439. ^ "Govt takes action against illegal fishing in Gwadar". The Express Tribune. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  440. ^ Schwemlein, James (2019). "Strategic Implications of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor". US Institute of Peace. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  441. ^ "China urges Pakistan to give army lead role in Silk Road project". Financial Times. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  442. ^ Bennett-Jones, Owen (3 August 2021). "Who benefits more?". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  443. ^ "Six concerns PML-N government must address about CPEC". The Express Tribune. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  444. ^ "Pakistan rethinks its role in Xi's Belt and Road plan". Financial Times. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  445. ^ "China president in Pakistan to sign £30bn 'land corridor' agreement". the Guardian. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  446. ^ Raza, Syed Irfan (5 December 2017). "Three CPEC projects hit snags as China mulls new financing rules". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  447. ^ a b Kiani, Khaleeq (8 February 2023). "Gwadar port dredging to cost five times more". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  448. ^ "The Current Situation in Pakistan". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  449. ^ "CPEC Pakistan: Strategies to Balance United States". PK At Glance. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  450. ^ "CPEC: Boon or Bane for Pakistan?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  451. ^ a b Khan, Muhammad Zahid Ullah; Khan, Minhas Majeed (2019). "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Opportunities and Challenges". Strategic Studies. 39 (2): 67–82. doi:10.53532/ss.039.02.00112. ISSN 1029-0990. JSTOR 48544300. S2CID 248707532.
  452. ^ "China's Great Game: Road to a new empire". Financial Times. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  453. ^ "First Djibouti ... now Pakistan tipped to have Chinese naval base". South China Morning Post. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  454. ^ Iwanek, Krzysztof. "No, Pakistan's Gwadar Port Is Not a Chinese Naval Base (Just Yet)". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  455. ^ "China and Pakistan: Fair-Weather Friends". Yale Journal of International Affairs. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  456. ^ a b Junaid Jahangir (3 August 2022). "Is China Pakistan's Friend?". The Friday Times. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  457. ^ Emma Farge (7 October 2022). "U.N. body rejects debate on China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims in blow to West". Reuters. Geneva. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  458. ^ "DFRAC EXCLUSIVE: Fake handles from Pakistan misleading Twitteratis in the name of CPEC | DFRAC_ORG". dfrac.org. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  459. ^ "Massive Chinese investment is a boon for Pakistan". The Economist. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  460. ^ Rakisits, Claude (Fall 2015). "A Path to the Sea: China's Pakistan Plan". World Affairs Journal. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  461. ^ Khan, Bilal (3 December 2015). "Pakistan's economy is turning a corner". Standard Charter Bank. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  462. ^ Khurram Husain (15 December 2016). "CPEC cost build-up". Pakistan. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  463. ^ a b Ishaan Tharoor (10 August 2018). "Pakistan may be the next victim of China's new 'imperialism'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  464. ^ a b Yvonne Lau (13 September 2022). "China gave tens of billions in secretive 'emergency loans' to vulnerable nations, emerging as world's major creditor and IMF competitor". Fortune. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  465. ^ "Sri Lanka asks China to restructure repayment of debt". Colombo: Dawn. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  466. ^ Hanan Zaffar (16 November 2016). "CPEC: Boon or Bane for Pakistan?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  467. ^ Faseeh Mangi (2 September 2022). "China's Funding to Pakistan Stands at 30% of Foreign Debt". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  468. ^ "Editorially integrated partnerships with the Telegraph". Archived from the original on 27 April 2019.
  469. ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (14 January 2019). "CPEC: govt seeks more joint ventures". DAWN.COM.
  470. ^ Owen Bennett-Jones (3 August 2021). "Who benefits more?". Dawn. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  471. ^ Uzair Younus (26 May 2021). "Pakistan's Growing Problem with its China Economic Corridor". usip.org. Washington, DC: The United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  472. ^ "Energy subsidies, efficiency must for growth". www.thenews.com.pk.
  473. ^ "Gwadar port starts handling Afghan transit trade: report". www.geo.tv.
  474. ^ "Gwadar Port fully operational: Asim Saleem Bajwa". Dunya news. Gwadar, Balochistan. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  475. ^ "Future of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor bleak?". DNA News (India). 21 August 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  476. ^ "Strings attached to top aid receiving countries". Daily Times. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  477. ^ "CPEC transparency". Dawn. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  478. ^ "Letters of intent, support: PPIB causes huge losses by granting extension". Business Recorder. 9 October 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  479. ^ "Nepra accepts tariff petition of Chinese firm for power plant". Pakistan: The Nation. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  480. ^ Aamir, Adnan (31 December 2017). "The Baloch's concerns". TNS.
  481. ^ Aamir, Adnan (7 December 2017). "Claims of Development from CPEC are Delusions: Senators from Balochistan". Balochistan Voices.
  482. ^ Salman Abduhu (6 January 2017). "Traders express reservations over CPEC". Lahore: The Nation. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  483. ^ a b Rafi, Salman (31 July 2017). "CPEC could be an expensive albatross around Pakistani necks". Asia Times. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  484. ^ a b Shah Meer Baloch (30 December 2015). "CPEC: A Bad Deal for the Baloch People?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  485. ^ Taneja, Pradeep (2 February 2016). "Trouble Ahead: The China-Pakistan-India Triangle". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  486. ^ Kiyya Baloch, The Diplomat. "Can China's Gwadar Port Dream Survive Local Ire?". The Diplomat.
  487. ^ a b "Gwadar to be made weapon-free city". Dawn. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  488. ^ a b "Punjab to reap CPEC benefits: Mengal". The Express Tribune. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  489. ^ a b "CPEC Designed to Bring Profit to China, Not Pakistan, Say Experts on Balochistan". outlookindia.com/. London. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  490. ^ Yousafzai, Fawad (29 December 2016). "Chinese to outnumber Baloch natives by 2048". The Nation.
  491. ^ "Balochistan, Baloch and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor" (PDF). Journal of Political Studies.
  492. ^ Dr Noman Ahmed (4 January 2023). "Gwadar imbroglio". Karachi: DAWN. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  493. ^ "Gwadar Port Project Reveals China's Regional Power Play". NBC News. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  494. ^ Khan, Sattar (14 April 2016). "Gwadar – Pakistan's impoverished colony or an economic hub?". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  495. ^ "Gwadar Port Project Reveals China's Regional Power Play". NBC News. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016. "Lt. General Amer Riaz, the powerful military commander who watches over Balochistan, is tasked with ensuring that Gwadar, CPEC and Pakistan's Chinese benefactors survive security threats. He tried to assuage these concerns. "There is going to be no deprivation of the locals," he said. "Folks here have the first right to everything. We must ensure that there is transparency and justice in this very critical and expensive project."'
  496. ^ "Hurdles in Gwadar Port development removed: minister". Pakistan Herald. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  497. ^ "China, Pakistan Ready New Cargo Port". Voice of America. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  498. ^ "Opinion | An Unequal Equation? CPEC Development and Pakistan's Political Mindset". IndraStra. ISSN 2381-3652.
  499. ^ "Kashghar-Gwadar trade route: KP Assembly passes unanimous resolution against proposed changes". Daily Times. Pakistan.
  500. ^ "KP Assembly threatens to resist any change in route". The News International. Pakistan. 7 February 2015.
  501. ^ "Pak-China Economic Corridor: Senators issue ominous warning over route change". The Express Tribune. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  502. ^ "Route alignment controversy". The Nation. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  503. ^ "CPEC and security of Chinese engineers". Pakistan Today. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  504. ^ C. Raja Mohan (10 July 2013). "The Great Game Folio". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  505. ^ "PM Modi told China, Pakistan economic corridor unacceptable: Sushma Swaraj". No. 31 May 2015. Zee News. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  506. ^ "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 'unacceptable', Modi tells China". The Express Tribune. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  507. ^ "India Lodges Protest over Chinese Investments in PoK". New Indian Express. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  508. ^ "India raises CPEC, NSG concerns with top Chinese envoy". The Express Tribune. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  509. ^ Jha, Saurav (7 September 2010). "China's Kashmir Gambit Raises Stakes in India-Pakistan Dispute". World Politics Review. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  510. ^ Vajpeyi, Dhirendra K. (2011). Water Resource Conflicts and International Security: A Global Perspective. Lexington Books. p. 124. ISBN 9780739170847. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  511. ^ Misra, A. (2010). India-Pakistan: Coming to Terms. Palgrave. ISBN 9780230109780. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  512. ^ Peerzada, Ashiq. "China has established its presence across PoK". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  513. ^ Chengappa, Bidanda (15 November 2011). "Why China is setting up military bases in PoK". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  514. ^ "Keep off PoK, India warns China". Times of India. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  515. ^ "India's most influential think-tanks". Hindustan Times. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  516. ^ "Increasing Chinese Footprint in India's North West: What should India do?". Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2017.

External links[edit]