PERCEIVED IMPACT OF CPEC ON REGIONAL COOPERATION: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF BRT PESHAWAR-TORKHAM ROUTE'S
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55733/jpcs.v6i1.93Keywords:
Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan, China, Region, connectivity, integration, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).Abstract
This study investigates the perceived impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on regional cooperation through the prospective development of the BRT Peshawar–Torkham corridor in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Employing a cross-sectional design, data were collected from a stratified sample of 778 respondents in Peshawar, comprising 747 individuals engaged in trade and commerce, 13 representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 18 BRT specialists, and 1 regional CPEC expert. A structured questionnaire, validated for reliability, captured demographic profiles alongside perceptions regarding CPEC and the BRT route. Descriptive statistical analyses, including frequency distributions and bar charts, were utilized for interpretation. Findings reveal that the majority of respondents were male, over 50 years of age, married, highly educated, engaged in the retail and service sectors, with over a decade of business experience, geographically located along the BRT–Torkham route, and frequent BRT users. Regarding the perceived impact of CPEC, 305 respondents (39%) agreed that it strengthens economic linkages among regional actors; 232 (30%) acknowledged its role in fostering peace and stability; 246 (31%) viewed it as a medium for cultural exchange; 295 (38%) identified it as a catalyst for socio-economic development; and 274 (35%) affirmed its potential as a regional game-changer. Similarly, perceptions regarding the BRT–Torkham route indicate that 201 respondents (26%) believed it would enhance cross-border trade; 338 (43%) considered it a viable safe corridor among the three countries; 346 (45%) reported its potential to reduce transportation time and logistical bottlenecks; 328 (42%) anticipated increased
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