CPEC EVALUATION AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL – A COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE CASE STUDY FROM LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE PERSPECTIVE IN PAKISTAN

Previous Belt and Road Initiative studies for regional collaborations often focus on the broader economic points of view without reaching out to the local perspectives and evaluating the ground experience on the development policies. This study reveals the stakeholder status of the local chamber of commerce and industry (CCI) organizations in collaboration between the local business community and government authorities in Pakistan. In recent times, collaborative governance demands the socio-economic and political inquiries to increase the comprehension of literature for the trade and investment initiatives started by the national governments through a collaboration of participating regimes. The appropriate investigation or exploratory approach and proper stakeholder identification may help in a reasonable answer to the critics who question the viability of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the local interests. The local business community faces initial challenges and opportunities during the capacity development of the social capital initiative, the CPEC.