The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by China in 2013, has developed into one of the world’s largest international connectivity and infrastructure cooperation frameworks. Its central idea is to improve connectivity through roads, railways, ports, energy networks, digital infrastructure and industrial cooperation, while facilitating trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
Over the past decade, the initiative has expanded across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with China, while more than 3,000 cooperation projects have been undertaken with partner countries.
Connectivity as the Core of BRI
The most visible contribution of the BRI is its emphasis on connectivity. Roads and railways connect previously distant markets; ports facilitate maritime trade; energy projects strengthen electricity supply; and digital networks increasingly connect economies through information infrastructure.
The World Bank has found that improved BRI transport connectivity has the potential to reduce travel times along major corridors by up to 12 percent and significantly reduce trade costs. Its modelling also suggests that BRI-related transport improvements could increase trade in corridor economies and generate wider economic benefits, although outcomes depend on the quality of individual projects, complementary reforms and countries’ ability to manage financial and environmental risks.
This is why the BRI should not be viewed merely as a collection of roads and bridges. It represents a broader effort to connect markets, production centres, ports, energy systems, technology and people.
CPEC: Pakistan’s Major BRI Corridor
For Pakistan, the most important expression of the BRI is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Since its launch, CPEC has focused on transport infrastructure, energy, Gwadar, digital connectivity and economic cooperation.
According to Pakistan’s CPEC Secretariat, approximately US$25 billion in Chinese investment was made during CPEC Phase I, while nearly 8,000 MW of electricity-generation capacity was added. CPEC also contributed to the development of the Thar coal project and established a cross-border fibre-optic network.
The transport dimension is particularly significant. Completed CPEC infrastructure includes the 120-km Havelian-Thakot section of the Karakoram Highway, 392-km Multan-Sukkur Motorway, 297-km Hakla-D.I. Khan Motorway and 106-km Khuzdar-Basima Road, along with the 820-km Khunjerab-Rawalpindi cross-border optical-fibre cable.
These projects have improved road connectivity between different parts of Pakistan and strengthened Pakistan’s potential role as a bridge between China, Central Asia, South Asia and the Arabian Sea.
Gwadar: From Port to Regional Connectivity Hub
Gwadar occupies a strategic position in the CPEC vision. Under CPEC, the Gwadar Port and Free Zone, Gwadar Eastbay Expressway, New Gwadar International Airport, Pak-China Friendship Hospital and technical and vocational institute have been completed, while additional water and port-related projects remain under development.
The Gwadar Eastbay Expressway is particularly important because it provides dedicated connectivity between the port and Pakistan’s national highway network, facilitating the movement of import, export and transit cargo. The project was completed and inaugurated in June 2022.
The long-term objective is increasingly to develop Gwadar not simply as a port but as a regional connectivity and logistics hub. In their May 2026 joint statement, Pakistan and China agreed to further develop Gwadar’s potential as a regional connectivity hub and to strengthen land connectivity through the Khunjerab Pass.
From CPEC 1.0 to CPEC 2.0
The next phase represents an important shift in emphasis. Whereas the first phase concentrated heavily on infrastructure and energy, CPEC 2.0 is designed to place greater emphasis on industrialization, agriculture, minerals, technology, human-resource development and business-to-business cooperation.
CPEC’s impact is not limited to physical transport. Pakistan’s official CPEC portfolio lists major completed energy projects including the Sahiwal, Port Qasim and Hub coal power plants, Thar energy projects, Karot Hydropower Project and Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, as well as wind and solar projects.
The development of the Khunjerab-Rawalpindi optical-fibre link also demonstrates how connectivity is moving beyond roads and ports toward the digital economy.
Therefore, the long-term success of the BRI will depend not only on how much infrastructure is constructed, but also on how effectively partner countries use that infrastructure to increase trade, exports, industrial production, employment and regional economic integration.
Pakistan’s Strategic Opportunity
For Pakistan, the BRI provides an opportunity to transform its geographical position into an economic advantage. Pakistan sits at the intersection of South Asia, Central Asia, Western China and the Arabian Sea. With improved highways, railways, ports, energy networks and digital infrastructure, this geography can support greater regional trade and connectivity.
The May 2026 Pakistan-China Joint Statement specifically identified the Karakoram Highway Thakot-Raikot realignment, Gwadar, Khunjerab connectivity, industrial parks, minerals, agriculture, digital economy and technology as areas for further cooperation.
The future challenge, therefore, is to move from “connectivity infrastructure” to “connectivity-driven economic growth.” Pakistan’s ability to increase exports, attract investment, develop industrial zones and connect local producers with regional markets will determine how fully it can convert CPEC infrastructure into sustainable economic benefits.
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