The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor in Transition: Development, Governance, and Regional Connectivity

This study examines stakeholder perceptions of Pakistan's engagement with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with particular attention to development opportunities, governance challenges, regional inequality, environmental sustainability, and public participation. Using a qualitative design, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with 125 participants from government, academia and research, business, civil society, and local communities; the methodology also reports supplementary focus-group discussions. The findings indicate that CPEC is widely associated with infrastructure development, energy security, and regional connectivity, although perceptions differ across stakeholder groups. Government and business participants emphasize economic and strategic opportunities, whereas academic, civil-society, and community participants raise concerns about transparency, uneven benefit distribution, environmental effects, displacement, and economic dependence. Taken together, the findings suggest that CPEC's perceived long-term value depends not only on investment and connectivity but also on institutional accountability, inclusive decision-making, environmental safeguards, and equitable regional development. The study contributes a multi-stakeholder perspective to debates on infrastructure-led development and governance in Pakistan.