China Pushes CPEC 2.0 Despite Security and Political Concerns in Pakistan

China has reaffirmed its commitment to the second phase of the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), despite persistent concerns over Pakistan’s political instability, security challenges, and project delays. Launched in 2013 under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC is a strategic priority linking Xinjiang to Gwadar, offering Beijing direct access to Middle Eastern markets while strengthening Pakistan’s economic outlook. The first $25 billion phase, initiated in 2015, delivered power plants and road networks but soon lost momentum after Pakistan’s political transition in 2018, causing delays, cost overruns, and frustration in Beijing. Chinese officials now stress that Pakistan must ensure security for personnel, maintain policy consistency, and deliver on its commitments. CPEC 2.0 shifts the focus from infrastructure to industrial cooperation, technology transfer, and sustainable development. Key projects include the long-awaited $7 billion upgrade of the ML-1 railway, joint ventures in waste-to-energy and mass transit systems, and potential high-speed rail between Lahore and Islamabad. While China views the corridor as vital for its trade and energy security, Pakistani officials see it as a lifeline for economic revival. Success, however, hinges on Islamabad’s ability to provide stability, security, and effective governance to turn CPEC 2.0 into a shared path of growth and innovation.n.