THE BALOCH PERSPECTIVE ON CPEC AND THE WAY FORWARD

Abstract

The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship initiative of the Belt and Road framework, situates Balochistan at the heart of regional connectivity and economic integration. While policymakers promote it as a driver of industrial growth, trade expansion, and employment, the Baloch people’s response has been shaped by deep-rooted historical, political, and cultural concerns. Central to these concerns are issues of Baloch identity preservation, longstanding trust deficits between the state and local communities, and widespread ignorance—both in the sense of lack of awareness among the general population about project details and neglect of local perspectives in planning. These factors have created skepticism, with many perceiving CPEC as an externally imposed project rather than a partnership for mutual benefit. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative interviews with Baloch community elders, youth representatives, and political activists alongside quantitative surveys of public perceptions regarding economic gains, cultural impacts, and governance transparency. Secondary data from government reports, policy papers, and scholarly works provide contextual grounding. Triangulation is applied to ensure the validity of findings. Preliminary insights reveal that the absence of culturally sensitive engagement, coupled with historical marginalization, fuels resistance. Many respondents link CPEC’s acceptability to the safeguarding of Baloch identity, greater inclusion in decision-making, and visible, locally targeted benefits. The study proposes a way forward that prioritizes human resource development of the Baloch people as the top agenda item—an area historically neglected. The CPEC Authority should commit 100% priority to building local capacity, skills, and leadership so that the people of Balochistan become active partners and beneficiaries, transforming CPEC from a contested venture into a genuine vehicle for shared prosperity