CPEC AND HERITAGE TOURISM: A PATHWAY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH IN PAKISTAN

This study examines the way heritage tourism and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) interact as a strategic means of promoting extended, sustainable economic growth in Pakistan. As the main project of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), CPEC has significantly improved energy infrastructure, roads, and railroads, particularly in historically undeveloped but historically rich areas like Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. This study explores how improved accessibility to heritage sites might promote tourism-driven companies, create jobs, and assist in community development using a qualitative research approach that includes semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and field observations. Keywords: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), heritage tourism, infrastructure development, sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, economic growth, community development, Pakistan