CPGS conducted a webinar on “POST COVID-19RELEVANCE OF BRI: FOCUS ON CPEC”

CPGS conducted a webinar on “POST COVID-19 RELEVANCE OF BRI: FOCUS ON CPEC” on Tuesday 19th May, 2020. Guest speakers brought the different aspects of the subject matter to light including the exclusivity of CPEC, Indian concerns and efforts to sabotage CPEC, security perspective of CPEC, American context in CPEC and possibilities that the CPEC holds for the future of Balochistan. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is considered as the most important economic project after the “Marshall Plan” to reconstruct the war-torn Europe. Although spread over 70 countries stretched over three continents (Asia, Europe and Africa), BRI is a world level game changer. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can be considered as the core of BRI. It will provide land route to world’s largest oil seeker to the world’s 3rd largest oil reservoirs. It will also provide cheap and shortest route to Chinese industry to purchase raw material and sell their goods. CPEC is not only pivotal to China but is equally important for Pakistan. Tying this knot will present Pakistan as China’s strategic partner and will help bring the political isolation of Pakistan to an end. Pakistan and the region at large facing waves of terrorism will bring other stakeholders onboard in order to prevent active to terrorism. Every economic activity needs peace, so Pakistan will have many partners to maintain law and order on its soil and eventually make the region stable and peaceful. Pakistan is facing state terrorism along Line of Control (LoC) and eastern border is in dire need of more partners to face the challenge and CPEC will ensure that success as well.