Category: Analysis
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: The Lure of Easy Financing and The Perils of Poor Planning
In the short-term, CPEC has exacerbated Pakistan's macroeconomic imbalances, contributing to a surge in the current account deficit and helping create another boom-bust cycle.
CPEC’s New Pivot
Beijing and Islamabad move to push forward agricultural and industrial cooperation while adding development assistance to the CPEC framework.
Imran Khan Heads to China
Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan headed to China on November 1 for his first visit to the country since taking office this summer. Khan hopes for assistance to ease his country’s ongoing economic crisis and aims to chart out an...
Saudi Arabia and CPEC
A refinery in Gwadar would give the Saudis an economic foothold in a strategic location—just outside the Strait of Hormuz but close to Persian Gulf shipping lanes—and could lock Pakistan into purchasing Saudi crude. Read more at The National Interest
China and Pakistan’s Financial Crisis
Pakistan faces another balance of payments crisis and may again head to the International Monetary Fund for help. China and its Belt and Road Initiative have been blamed – unfairly – for the crisis, but the real culprit is poor...
Pakistan’s Economy: The Big Picture
Islamabad is exploring a range of options to avert a balance of payments crisis.
CPEC and the New Government
A new government in Islamabad brings fresh uncertainty to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor program.
Afghanistan, CPEC and Chabahar After America’s Exit from the Iran Deal
The reimposition of sanctions on Iran and the threat of secondary sanctions will inhibit foreign investment in Chabahar. But for Afghanistan's economy, the promise of Chabahar is overblown anyway.
Why Gwadar Needs a Cultural Tourism Strategy
The port and industrial zone are at the heart of the vision for Gwadar, but cultural spaces will provide additional drivers of economic activity and shape a broader, inclusive narrative for the city.
Gwadar’s Real Estate Market Picks Up
New entrants into Gwadar real estate — potentially including Chinese private equity players — signal how this market might be different from others in Pakistan.