CPEC Beyond 2030: ‘A Corridor Of Consciousness’

News Desk

Islamabad: CPEC could potentially be a corridor of commerce as well as a “corridor of consciousness” committed to forging a green alliance, stated University of Lahore Faculty of Social Sciences Dean Dr Rabia Akhtar at a book launch event.

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) China Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) recently hosted the book launch of ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Beyond 2030: A Green Alliance for Sustainable Development’.

Edited by Dr Rabia Akhtar and published by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), this volume explores the evolving landscape of the CPEC initiative with a particular focus on sustainability and green development.

ISSI Director General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood said that this book emphasises CPEC’s potential to drive sustainable growth by aligning its projects with global sustainability goals, including the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Former Ambassador of Pakistan to China Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi reflected on the broader geopolitical context of CPEC, stating that few economic or connectivity projects in recent times have stirred such intense debate and emotion, largely due to the geopolitical tensions among major powers.
Naghmana praised the book for presenting a counter-narrative that not only discusses the challenges but also proposes long-term solutions.

Quaid-e-Azam University Associate Professor Dr Salma Malik highlighted the book’s exploration of the political, geostrategic, and environmental dimensions of CPEC, advocating for the initiative’s evolution into a “Green CPEC” as part of its next phase.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Hassan Daud Butt discussed the development of environmentally sustainable Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as a key aspect of CPEC, urging the government to formulate policies that facilitate private sector investment in these zones.

Dr Akhtar described it as a “call to action” to envision a future where economic development and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive but rather interdependent.

China Embassy in Pakistan Minister Counsellor Xu Hangtian praised the book as a “masterpiece”, acknowledging the challenges faced by both China and Pakistan during the implementation of CPEC, particularly those related to sustainability.

FES Country Director Felix Kolbitz voiced optimism that the book would ignite new ideas, encourage further research, and make a meaningful contribution to the ongoing discourse on sustainable development within the CPEC framework and beyond.