CPEC AND GILGIT-BALTISTAN: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

PEC, a massive economic project under BRI, focuses on the socioeconomic and political dividends in Gilgit Baltistan. It is expected to create more than half a million jobs by creating Special Economic Zones in Gilgit, imparting a boom to the tourism industry and enlarging the scope of e-commerce. Hydropower development, technical expertise, and human resources—resulting from CPEC projects—are also likely to transform the socio-economic dynamics of the region. This paper argues that the success of CPEC— considering the importance of connectivity for local markets—is likely to transform the region's socio-economic dynamics that will help promote economic and social inclusion of the people, mitigating their sense of deprivation.