Maktab Competitive Exams Services
Current Affairs Workshop for CSS 2025
Instructor: Arslan Zahid Khan (CSP - 51st Common)
Uncertain Future of CPEC amid Unstable Security
Landscape of Pakistan
Historic Overview of CPEC
1. Inaugurated in 2015
2. Will be completed in 2030
A Glance at CPEC 1.0
Energy Projects:
1. 1320MW Sahiwal Coal-fired Power Plant
2. 1320MW Coal-fired Power Plant at Port Qasim Karachi
3. 1320MW China Hub Coal Power Project, Hub Balochistan
4. 660MW Engro Thar Coal Power Project
5. 1000MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park (Bahawalpur)
6. 50 MW Hydro China Dawood Wind Farm, Gharo, Thatta
7. 100MW UEP Wind Farm, Jhimpir, Thatta
8. 50MW Sachal Wind Farm ,Jhimpir, Thatta
9. 100MW Three Gorges Second and Third Wind Power Project
10. Matiari to Lahore ±660 KV HVDC Transmission Line Project
11. 720MW Karot Hydropower Project, AJK/Punjab
12. 884MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, KP
Infrastructure Development:
1. KKH Phase II (Havelian - Thakot Section)
2. Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (Multan-Sukkur Section)
3. Orange Line Metro Train – Lahore
4. Cross Border Optical Fiber Cable (Khunjrab - Rawalpindi)
5. Hakla - D.I Khan Motorway
Gwadar Port Development
1. Development of Port and Free Zone
2. Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan
3. Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute at Gwadar
4. Gwadar Eastbay Expressway
5. Pak-China Friendship Hospital
6. New Gwadar International Airport
Special Economic Zones
1. Rashakai SEZ
2. Allama Iqbal Industrial City
3. Dhabezi SEZ
4. Bostan SEZ
Factors Contributing to Uncertain Future of CPEC:
1. Unstable Security Landscape:
Karachi University attack by a female suicide bomber of BLA in 2022, Attack on PNS
Siddique Naval Air Base, Turbat in March 2024, Karachi Airport Bombing, October 6,
2024, BLA Research and Intelligence Wing Zirab – Underwater – BLA Became fastest
Growing Terroist group in the world (CPEC Protection Force)
2. Grievance of Locals against Chinese incursions:
Economic Marginalization, Restrictions on Livelihood (Local fishermen face
challenges due to the presence of illegal chinese fishing trawlers and restrictions
imposed by authorities (Check posts), which hinder their traditional means of earning
a living) Haq DO Tehreek
3. Role of IMF Bailout Packages:
IMF asks to reduce borrowings that directly hamper the progress of CPEC projects
IMF asks Pakistan to remove sovereign guarantees in energy sector
Elimination of subsidies and tex reliefs in existing SEZs and no more new SEZ would
be built
4. Environmental Impact and Lack of Compliance with International
Standards
CBAM, DPP, and CS3D
5. Interprovincial Tensions:
Punjab has received a significant share of CPEC's infrastructure investments. Major
highways, such as the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway and the Multan-Sukkur Motorway,
and projects like the Orange Line Metro in Lahore, are seen as disproportionately
benefiting Punjab. In contrast, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), despite
being strategically located along the CPEC route, have raised concerns about their
lack of comparable investments in infrastructure and development projects.
A glance at CPEC 2.0
Aims at transforming Pakistan’s Economy to 1 trillion dollar by 2035 and 3 trillion
dollars by 2047.
The mentioned Corridors complement Pakistan’s 5 Es framework: Exports, E-
Pakistan, Environment and Climate Change, Energy and Infrastructure, Equity and
Empowerment
Growth Corridor:
Enhancing Pakistan’s economic growth through targeted infrastructure projects
and industrialization. ICT Model Industrial Zone (Low Carbon Industries). 3200 Acres
industrial park on Pak Steel Mills land in Karachi, Up-gradation and Dualization of ML-
1 and establishment of Dry Port near Havelian
Livelihood Enhancing Corridor
1. Gwadar Livelihood Project (Upgradation and development of fishing, boat
making and maintenance services to protect and promote livelihoods of local
population).
2. China Overseas Ports Holding Company Limited (COPHCL) is taking effective
measures for social sector development
3. China is going to establish Agricultural Technology Parks that focus on research
and development of new agricultural technologies. These parks aim to create
an ecosystem for agriculture innovation, training, and knowledge-sharing
between the two countries.
4. Under the umbrella of CPEC, China is working on introducing farming
automation, including smart tractors and drones for precision agriculture,
to improve the efficiency of farm operations in Pakistan.
5. CPEC is promoting the development of food processing industries in
Pakistan, particularly in Punjab, with Chinese investment.
Innovation Corridor:
Karachi IT Park, National Incubation Centres with the help of China, Presidential
Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Computing, Collaboration of 5G technology, Tech
Defence
Green Corridor
Projects like solar parks, wind farms, and electric vehicle manufacturing initiatives are
integral to CPEC 2.0, and they are expected to drive green innovation and reduce
Pakistan's carbon footprint. BYD manufacturing plant in 2026, 1124MW Kohala
Hydropower Project, AJK, 50MW Cacho Wind Power Project, 700.7MW Azad Pattan
Hydropower Project, AJK/Punjab
Opening Up Corridor
Trade Facilitation Infrastructure: Developing modernized ports, customs procedures,
and transport corridors to expedite international trade. Cooperation in Integrated
Transit Trade Management System ITTMS, CPEC Export Zones (Special focus on the
creation of export processing zones at Gwadar, Khunjerab, and Sost to boost
exports and regional integration.)
What need to be Done for Successful Implementation of CPEC 2.0?
1. Establish dedicated security zones around key infrastructure like Gwadar
Port, roads, and energy plants.
2. Engage with local communities in areas like Balochistan to address
grievances and reduce hostility towards CPEC.
3. Establish cross-party committees to ensure CPEC’s continuity regardless of
political transitions.
4. Shift to equity-based financing for future projects, reducing the burden of loan
repayment.
5. Ensure the federal government supports local authorities with financial and
technical assistance, ensuring projects are executed efficiently.
6. Encourage the use of green technologies and renewable energy sources in
CPEC projects to minimize environmental degradation.
7. Pakistan should diversify its energy mix to include solar, wind, hydropower,
and nuclear to meet growing demands sustainably.
