Excitement is building in Islamabad as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prepares for his upcoming visit to China on June 4 to revive the struggling China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This follows a successful visit by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Beijing in mid-May, where both sides pledged to get the massive investment plan back on track.
With hopes high, analysts expect meaningful progress during Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit, focusing on upgrading the CPEC, boosting trade and investment, enhancing security cooperation, and strengthening various sectors.
CPEC, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aims to connect China with Gwadar port in Pakistan by developing infrastructure links. Despite challenges, including economic slowdowns, security threats, and political instability, revitalizing the CPEC is crucial for Pakistan’s economy.
As Pakistan seeks to address inflation, trade deficits, and debt, securing investments and infrastructure development through initiatives like CPEC is vital for long-term growth and regional connectivity.
While challenges remain, China sees CPEC as strategically important for its interests, highlighting the need for Pakistan to address concerns regarding debt, transparency, security, and geopolitical tensions to fully capitalize on the project’s potential.