Dimensions of CPEC and Its Dividends

Abstract

CPEC is a complex project and was given an official launch in April 2015 when then-Chinese
President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan. It is a blend of structures, energy, ports, railway systems,
and people-oriented development projects that improve Pakistan’s trade access, export capacity,
and strategic location (Kuszewska et al., 2021). Pakistan and China know that the provisions of
the CPEC enhance the economic development of both countries and it would be a harbinger of
prosperity in the less developed areas of Pakistan. The article discusses the consequences of the
CPEC, which includes the components of early harvester projects, midterm and long-term
strategic, and general sectors with social sector developments such as poverty eradication, clean
drinking water, health, education, vocational training, and agricultural sectors (Ali, 2020).
It also assesses the opportunities and threats of the CPEC and policy implications for making this
project sustainable and pro-poor. The CPEC is the highlight of the BRI that intends to connect
western China with Pakistan’s Gwadar port with a transportation and trade investment spider web
(Bilal et al., 2022). Since construction forms part of the growth, employment, and development of
the economy of Pakistan, the construction of CPEC has positive impacts on the construction
industry of the country.