China's Investment in Pakistan's Gwadar Airport Raises Questions About Local Benefits
The $240 million New Gwadar International Airport, completed in October 2024, is a stark contrast to the impoverished province of Balochistan around it. Despite being financed by China and touted as transformational, the airport has yet to attract significant passenger traffic or economic benefits for the local population. Authorities claim that CPEC has created jobs, but many residents question the authenticity of these claims.
- The airport's delayed opening highlights the challenges of securing resources and infrastructure in remote areas, where local politics can often be more complex than what is publicly represented.
- How will China's continued investment in Pakistan, particularly through projects like CPEC, impact the country's ability to balance its economic development with social justice for marginalized regions?