The document discusses the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. It provides details on what CPEC is, when it started, the opportunities it presents, and the challenges. Specifically, CPEC is a $67 billion investment in infrastructure projects connecting China to Pakistan's Gwadar Port. It is expected to boost Pakistan's economy through job creation, increased trade, and improved transportation networks. However, there is opposition from India and security issues pose ongoing challenges to its implementation.

2. What Is CPEC
 The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor ( also known as CPEC) is an
economic corridor comprising a collection of projects currently
under construction at a cost of $67 billion. CPEC aims to
facilitate trade along an overland route that connects Kashgar and
Gwadar, through the construction of a network of highways,
railways, and pipelines.
 Infrastructure projects under CPEC will span the length and
breadth of Pakistan, and will eventually link the city of Gwadar in
southwestern Pakistan to China's northwestern autonomous region
of Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways.
 The corridor is intended to rapidly expand and upgrade Pakistani
infrastructure, as well as deepen and broaden economic links
between Pakistan and the People's Republic of China . It is
considered to be an extension of China's ambitious One Belt, One
Road initiative.

4. When Did It Start
 Plans for a corridor stretching from the Chinese border to Pakistan's
deep water ports on the Arabian Sea date back to the 1950s, and
motivated construction of the Karakoram Highway beginning in 1959.
 Chinese interest in Pakistan's deep-water harbour at Gwadar had been
rekindled by 1998 and in 2002 China began construction at Gwadar
port which was completed in 2006.
 The current form of the project was first proposed by Pakistan Peoples
Party. Asif Ali Zardari invited heads of all the political parties to a
Luncheon in honour of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Aiwan-e-
Sadr on 22 May 2013.
 In February 2014, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain visited China
to discuss the plans for an economic corridor in Pakistan. Two months
later, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with Premier Li
Kequiang in China to discuss further plans.

5. What Are The Opportunities
 CPEC, a $67 billion project, is an economic corridor comprising a set of
projects in energy, road, railway and fibre optics and will open doors to
economic opportunities not only to Pakistan but will physically connect
China to its markets in Asia, Europe and beyond.
 The project is expected to add 2 to 2.5 percent to the annual
economic growth of Pakistan. Also, it is forecasted to add 2 million
direct and indirect jobs to Pakistan’s economy between 2015-2030.
 There is a fair division of projects between the four provinces of Pakistan:
16 in Baluchistan, 8 in KPK, 13 in Sindh and 12 in Punjab.
 Under CPEC, a grand total of 21 energy projects have been planned.
Altogether, these projects would eventually produce 16,400 megawatts of
power, roughly the same as Pakistan’s current capacity.
 With nearly $11 billion earmarked for infrastructure development the road
and railway network will greatly benefit Pakistan’s economy. The road
infrastructure will see development along Khuzdar-Basima Highway,
Karakoram Highway II, Karachi Lahore Motorway and other projects.

7. What Are The Opportunities
 To enhance connectivity and improve transportation facilities
upgradation of 1,872 kilometer track from Karachi to Peshawar will
be carried out.
 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are specialized zones with specific
types of enterprises operating in a well-defined geographic area
where certain economic activities are promoted by a set of policy.
 This investment includes the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park in
Bahawalpur, Jhimper Wind Energy Park, Suki Kinari Hydropower
project and Kohala Hydropower project.
 The region of Gilgit-Baltistan is known for its fresh fruit exports, like
cherries, apricots and apples. CPEC will be a game changer by opening
business opportunities for the region’s traders. With an estimated
production of 4,000 tonnes of cherries and up to 20,000 tons of apples
every year, the region has potential to tap into the Chinese market.
 China plans to shift parts of its $300 billion textile to Pakistan for
which industrial zones are being identified by both countries.

9. What Are The Challenges
 The United States and its like-minded European nations
also seemed frustrated with the CPEC.
 The Indian intelligence agency RAW crafted a network in
Baluchistan to obstruct the construction of CPEC
infrastructure.
 Premier Modi government is determined to wreck CPEC
project because it is in the interest of Pakistan.
 There are also some internal challenges like the
administration issues, corruption and security issues.