Exploring the environmental sustainability potential of the China-Pakistan economic corridor for Pakistan

In 2013, China and Pakistan agreed to jointly build infrastructure and to generate power in order to support the development of Pakistan alongside the successful implementation of Belt and Road Initiative. The projects carried out under this agreement are collectively called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the CPEC is anticipated to bring prosperity and peace to South Asia. Notably, the CPEC will improve the respective economies of both countries and the trade between them, establish a regional connection between these countries, solve their energy issues, increase their people’s interactions, and develop their infrastructure, by the establishment of 2000 km-transportation infrastructure (pipelines, railways, and roads) between China (Kashgar) and Pakistan (Gwadar port) on the Arabian Sea, improving the China-Pakistan connectivity. However, Pakistan faces numerous potential eco-environmental vulnerabilities in implementing this multibillion-dollar CPEC. Although, the CPEC is a collection of game-changing infrastructure projects that will improve Pakistan’s destiny and modernize it. The study also confirms that the people serving in different sectors of Pakistan have sufficient awareness and understanding of CPEC project. They are hopeful towards the advantages and execution of the CPEC project, indicating the effective strategies for supporting the sustainable development of Pakistan.