CPEC - Regional Connectivity Between Pakistan and Central Asia

Abstract

This paper provides a discussion on China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its potential contribution for the augmentation of regional connectivity between Pakistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs). CPEC is the main project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) between China and Pakistan, comprising of industrial zones, pipest lines, energy, rail, and road segments for the trade of goods and energy from western Kashgar and running along the Lenart Highway through western Pakistan to Gwadar in the Arabian Sea. The corridor could link landlocked Central Asian countries to warmer water ports and better connections to South Asia, Middle East, as well as Africa. The study is qualitative and secondary source-based, policy report and official statements-based, and deals with strategic and economic and geopolitical relevance of CPEC. It believes that investment in transport infrastructure, customs harmonization, trade facilitation and development of energy cooperation can boost Pakistan – Central Asia connectivity. But political volatility, security concerns, poor infrastructure, among other regulatory constraints and regional rivalries are still major hurdles. The paper argues that CPEC has potential of helping to drive already going pan-Eurasian integration by means of continuous investment, institutional transformation and multilateral diplomacy.