China’s Belt and Road initiative is a major economic and geopolitical project aiming at connecting China with Europe, Central Asia and Russia via several proposed trade routes. The maritime silk route and the land silk road are two main parts of it which include both several branches. One branch leads from western China via the Khunjerab pass, the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges as well as the Indus plane and the desert of Balochistan to the port of Gwadar in Pakistan. This branch has a specific economic significance because it connects the land silk road with the maritime silk road. The government of Pakistan hopes to develop the country’s economy by the Belt and Road initiative and the government of China wants to connect Pakistan to its strategic sphere and isolate India’s economical chances and connections in South Asia. On the other side, it crosses the world’s highest paved international border check point, leads through the politically disputed region of Gilgit-Pakistan which is under Pakistani control, but claimed also by India, as well as the Indus plane with several environmentally related issues like the world’s second worst air polluted city Lahore and ends in Gwadar, the main harbour city in the province of Balochistan which is regularly shaken by separatist movements.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract
2. Overview
3. Projects related to the China-Pakistan economic corridor
3.1 Coal-based projects
3.2 Port of Gwadar
3.3 Diamer Basha Dam
4. Debate on the environmental, ecological and social implications of the CPEC related projects
4.1 General debate
4.2 Coal-based technologies
4.3 Desalination plant in Gwadar
4.4 Diamer Basha Dam
5. Conclusion and perspective
Objectives and Topics
This perspective paper investigates whether the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) serves as a genuine catalyst for sustainable economic development in Pakistan or if it primarily functions as a tool for Chinese geopolitical and economic leverage that exacerbates environmental degradation. It examines the socio-economic and ecological impacts of specific infrastructure projects, such as coal-fired power plants, the port of Gwadar, and the Diamer Basha Dam, to assess their long-term viability and benefit to the local population.
- Geopolitical and economic motivations behind the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
- Environmental impact of coal-based energy projects in Pakistan
- Ecological and social consequences of large-scale infrastructure like the Diamer Basha Dam
- Sustainability and water security challenges associated with desalination technology in Gwadar
- Local participation and the socio-economic benefits for the Pakistani population
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 Coal-based technologies
Many projects related to the CPEC are based on coal. Coal considered as an obsolete energy source in many parts of the world having several severe environmental impacts seems to become step by step an important energy source in Pakistan. In this section of the paper, I want to identify the reasons for the increase of coal-based energy projects and discuss their environmental impacts in Pakistan.
Population growth as well as the planned economic activities related to the CPEC increase Pakistan’s energy demand significantly. With the financial and infrastructural help of China, seven power plants based on coal were built to satisfy the increasing energy demand. Coal was considered in this context as a reliable and rather cheap energy source. Furthermore, coal was a technology that didn’t have uncertainties because it’s one of the first energy sources used in the modern world. Pakistan until now is very unexperienced in the usage of alternative energy sources and China seemed to prefer opting on an energy source that Pakistan is able to handle without further difficulties. In the context of the Paris Agreement on limiting the global warming to 1.5 °C, China’s effort to implement many coal-based power plants in Pakistan (and in other countries of the Belt and Road initiative) was criticized roughly and was considered as an acting against the principles of the Paris Agreement. Due to problems in financing the coal-based power plants, China’s president Xi Jinping announced in the year 2021 not to finance such projects in Pakistan any longer. Nevertheless, the existing power plants continue working. (Bhandary & Gallagher, 2022)
Summary of Chapters
1. Abstract: Provides an introduction to the Belt and Road initiative's significance for Pakistan and outlines the central questions regarding economic vs. geopolitical interests and environmental sustainability.
2. Overview: Offers a geopolitical context of the Belt and Road initiative, illustrating its scope as a strategic instrument for China to link Asian and European markets.
3. Projects related to the China-Pakistan economic corridor: Details key infrastructure initiatives, including coal energy, the Port of Gwadar, and the Diamer Basha Dam, highlighting their development and operational background.
4. Debate on the environmental, ecological and social implications of the CPEC related projects: Critically evaluates the negative externalities of CPEC projects, focusing on climate change contributions, water scarcity, and the lack of local decision-making power.
5. Conclusion and perspective: Synthesizes the findings, concluding that the CPEC is currently not a sustainable or fair project, largely due to its focus on outdated technologies and the limited benefit for the Pakistani public.
Keywords
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC, Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan, Geopolitics, Sustainability, Environmental Degradation, Coal-based Energy, Diamer Basha Dam, Gwadar, Desalination, Water Scarcity, Infrastructure, Foreign Investment, Economic Sovereignty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The paper examines the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to determine if it acts as an economic opportunity or an environmental disaster for Pakistan.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the geopolitical motivations of China, the environmental footprint of infrastructure projects, economic dependency, and the social impact on the local population.
What is the primary research question?
The study aims to evaluate whether CPEC projects genuinely foster sustainable economic development for Pakistan or primarily serve to control Pakistan economically and geopolitically while worsening its environmental state.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis based on existing scholarly literature, project reports, and official energy data to assess the ecological and economic implications of CPEC.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section analyzes specific projects like coal power plants, the Gwadar Port development, and the Diamer Basha Dam, alongside a critical debate on their environmental and social risks.
What are the defining keywords of the work?
The work is defined by terms such as CPEC, Belt and Road Initiative, geopolitical influence, environmental sustainability, coal-based energy, and water security in Pakistan.
How does the author view the role of the Pakistani government in CPEC decisions?
The author argues that the Pakistani government holds limited influence, as final decisions are primarily driven by the Chinese government, rendering local stakeholder participation nearly impossible.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the sustainability of the CPEC?
The author concludes that the CPEC cannot be considered a sustainable, equal, or future-oriented project, highlighting that it currently serves as a "state inside the state" independent of Pakistan's ordinary economic interests.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2023, China's Belt and Road initiative in Pakistan. An economic chance or an environmental disaster?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1591924
