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
- References
Objectives & Key Themes
This perspective paper fundamentally investigates the multifaceted implications of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Pakistan, specifically focusing on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It aims to determine whether CPEC represents a genuine economic opportunity for Pakistan or if its projects contribute to environmental disaster and increased economic and geopolitical dependency on China, while also scrutinizing the level of local participation and benefit for the Pakistani populace.
- Analysis of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a major economic and geopolitical project.
- Examination of specific CPEC infrastructure developments, including coal-based power plants, Gwadar Port, and the Diamer Basha Dam.
- Assessment of the environmental, ecological, and social implications of CPEC-related projects in Pakistan.
- Discussion of Pakistan's economic sovereignty and the potential for increased dependency on China.
- Investigation into the sustainability of CPEC projects and their impact on Pakistan's climate change vulnerability and local communities.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 General debate
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been a subject of intense debate and scrutiny since its inception, with many scholars and analysts questioning the true intentions behind this ambitious infrastructure project. On one hand, the project has been touted as a means to improve Pakistan's economy and foster its development, while on the other, it has been viewed as a strategic move by China to exert greater control over Pakistan and make it economically dependent. (Salik, 2018) (Chaziza, 2016) (Qadri, 2019). They contend that the corridor will not only improve Pakistan's connectivity with China but also with the broader region, opening up new trade and investment opportunities. (Salik, 2018) The idea rests on the notion of China's newer role in the evolving geostrategic and geo-economic underpinnings of the world, and also Pakistan's resilience towards carving out a strengthened economic base amidst major security challenges (Chaziza, 2016). Pakistan aims to provide a platform for economic growth for the region and beyond, and has envisioned to boost development and raise the standards of living across the corridor, which includes Western China as well as areas of Pakistan which have suffered at the hands of agitated neighborhood as a burden of history (Salik, 2018).
However, viewing the opportunities that lie within CPEC in isolation from the challenges may indeed be delusional. With the pace of time, some critics have raised concerns against the joint CPEC project, such as hasty project operations, favoritism, misappropriations, unequal distribution of resources, ignorance of legal regulations, and hurdles through public administrative requirements (Surahio, Gu, Mahesar, & Soomro, 2022). Yet, government stakeholders from the Pakistani side have taken these issues as a normal part of international projects and expected them to be reconciled shortly, which they were able to do through China's intervention to bring provincial and federal stakeholders on a common platform and revise the projects under provincial and regional special economic zones while assuring maximum dividend distribution through the announcement of capital-based new projects within the CPEC umbrella (Surahio, Gu, Mahesar, & Soomro, 2022). While the proponents of CPEC emphasize its potential to boost Pakistan's economy and development, critics have expressed concerns that the project may be more a means for China to exert greater economic and geopolitical control over Pakistan (Surahio et al., 2022).(Qadri, 2019).
Chapter Summaries
1. Abstract: This section provides an overview of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Pakistan, outlining its geopolitical and economic significance while introducing the central questions regarding its impact on Pakistan's development, environment, and sovereignty.
2. Overview: This chapter details the Belt and Road Initiative as a strategic geopolitical project by the Chinese government, focusing on the infrastructural developments along its planned trade routes and specifically describing the geographical divisions of CPEC within Pakistan.
3. Projects related to the China-Pakistan economic corridor: This section presents several key infrastructure projects under CPEC in Pakistan, including the development of coal-based power plants, the Port of Gwadar, and the Diamer Basha Dam.
4. Debate on the environmental, ecological and social implications of the CPEC related projects: This chapter engages in a critical discussion of the CPEC projects, examining their controversial environmental, ecological, and social impacts, with particular attention to sustainability concerns related to coal, desalination, and dam initiatives.
5. Conclusion and perspective: This final section summarizes the paper's findings, concluding that CPEC may not be a sustainable, equitable, or future-oriented project for Pakistan, emphasizing concerns about economic dependency, environmental degradation, and limited local benefits.
Keywords
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Pakistan, economic development, environmental impact, Gwadar Port, Diamer Basha Dam, coal power plants, geopolitics, sustainability, water scarcity, air pollution, local participation, economic dependency, infrastructure projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper fundamentally about?
This paper fundamentally investigates whether China's Belt and Road Initiative in Pakistan, specifically the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), represents a genuine economic opportunity for Pakistan or poses an environmental and geopolitical disaster.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include the geopolitical and economic motivations behind CPEC, specific infrastructure projects (like coal power plants, Gwadar Port, and Diamer Basha Dam), their environmental consequences, and the social implications regarding Pakistan's sovereignty and local participation.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The primary goal is to analyze whether CPEC projects truly foster sustainable development and improve Pakistan's economy, or if they lead to increased dependency on China and exacerbate environmental issues.
Which scientific method is used?
The paper is presented as a "Perspective Paper," indicating a qualitative, analytical approach based on existing literature and critical assessment of the projects and their implications, rather than a specific empirical scientific method like an experiment or survey.
What is covered in the main part?
The main part of the paper covers an overview of the Belt and Road Initiative, detailed descriptions of key CPEC projects in Pakistan (coal, Gwadar Port, Diamer Basha Dam), and a comprehensive debate on their environmental, ecological, and social implications.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key keywords characterizing this work are China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan, economic development, environmental disaster, Gwadar Port, coal-based projects, sustainable development, geopolitical implications, and local participation.
Why is India mentioned as opposing the Belt and Road Initiative?
India is mentioned as opposing the BRI due to political issues and geopolitical interests, striving to remain independent and launching its own economic projects, partially because CPEC crosses disputed territory in Gilgit-Baltistan, which India also claims.
What are the primary environmental concerns associated with the Gwadar desalination plant?
The Gwadar desalination plant is a concern due to its exploitation of the hydrosphere for feedwater, increased greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from energy consumption, and marine pollution from brine, chemicals, and corrosion products affecting the coastal ecosystem of Balochistan.
What are the specific environmental and social impacts of the Diamer Basha Dam?
The Diamer Basha Dam's construction threatens biodiversity, displaces local communities, disrupts natural habitats, and could alter the Indus River's flow, affecting water resources for downstream communities. It also raises concerns about exacerbating seismic activity in the geologically active Karakoram Mountain range.
How does the paper view local participation in CPEC projects?
The paper concludes that local participation in CPEC projects is minimal, with China being the primary decision-maker and Chinese citizens often employed in projects, thereby limiting benefits and opportunities for ordinary Pakistani people.
- Citation du texte
- Anonym (Auteur), 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
