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The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has positioned Pakistan at the intersection of major regional connectivity projects. As the flagship initiative of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), CPEC links China’s western regions to the Arabian Sea through Gwadar, while simultaneously connecting South Asia, Central Asia, and the broader Asia Pacific. This panel examines Pakistan’s emerging role as a connectivity hub in an era of intensifying US-China competition and shifting regional architectures. Beyond infrastructure, connectivity has become a central arena of geopolitical contestation, economic realignment, and security management.The panel addresses three interrelated dimensions.
First, CPEC and BRI: What are the outcomes of CPEC Phase 2 for industrialization, energy, agriculture, and trade in Pakistan? How is Gwadar developing as a maritime and logistics node?
Second, Regional Integration: How is Pakistan leveraging connectivity to deepen ties with Central Asia, ASEAN, and the Middle East? What are the prospects and challenges for transit corridors, digital infrastructure, and energy pipelines?
Third, Great Power Competition: How are external actors — the US, India, EU, and GCC states — responding to Pakistan’s connectivity role? What are the implications of alternative initiatives like B3W and PGII for Pakistan’s strategic choices?
By bringing together scholars from Pakistan, China, and the West, this panel provides a timely assessment of Pakistan’s connectivity potential and its significance for regional order in a multipolar Asia.
Keywords: Pakistan, CPEC, BRI, Connectivity, Gwadar, US-China Competition, Regional Integration, Indo-Pacific