CHINA PAKISTAN ECONOMIOC CORRIDOR: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR CHITRAL

Authors

  • Jahangir Alam
  • Naveed Alam
  • Nazakat Mansoor
  • Safdar Hussain

Keywords:

CPEC, Geo-strategic, Geo-political, Opportunities, Challenges, Infrastructure, Development, National Interest, BRI, Employment

Abstract

Pakistan and China have shared one of the most trusted, committed, and longstanding friendship since the establishment of their formal diplomatic ties. The relations between these two neighboring countries have remained solid, higher than the towering mountains of Himalayas and deeper than the deepest sea of Gwadar even during the most challenging times. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), considered to be a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a major development project aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, infrastructure, economic development, and trade facilitation. Pakistan, having a unique geo-strategic location at the intersection of Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Western China, plays a pivotal role in this initiative. Under the CPEC, the development of Gwadar Port and related infrastructure provides China more secure and a shorter trade route to the Europe and Middle East. As CPEC offers significant benefits at national level, but its regional implications mainly for underdeveloped and remote areas like Chitral, remain hidden and unexplored. This research aims to explore and analyze the socio-economic, political, and religious impacts of CPEC on Pakistan in general, with a special focus on Chitral district. This research seeks to analyze the opportunities that CPEC presents for Chitral, such as development in tourism, expansion in infrastructure, generation of employment, and market integration, alongside the challenges including governance issues, cultural disruptions, inadequate local preparedness, and environmental concerns. The research also provides strategic recommendations to maximize the benefits of China Pakistan Economic Corridor for Chitral while addressing its potential drawbacks.

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Published

2025-10-04

How to Cite

Jahangir Alam, Naveed Alam, Nazakat Mansoor, & Safdar Hussain. (2025). CHINA PAKISTAN ECONOMIOC CORRIDOR: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR CHITRAL. Policy Research Journal, 3(10), 120–134. Retrieved from https://policyrj.com/index.php/1/article/view/1127