CPEC holds huge significance for Pakistan's economy.

Byline: Khalil Ahmed

Interview with Sardar Shoukat Popalzai - President, Balochistan Economic Forum

Profile: Sardar Shoukat Popalzai, President of the Balochistan Economic Forum, comes from the traditional Popalzai tribe, gained his academic degree in International Relations with major in Diplomacy and Anti-Terrorism with advance Degree level Hotel Management Certification.

He has been leading many Ministerial, Governmental and private business delegations to various countries and is also a member of several important advisory committees of prestigious government organizations and business representative bodies. Over the years, he has made presentations at numerous important conferences and high-level corporate briefings. He is recipient of awards from USA, Great Britain, France, the People's Republic of China and Federal Republic of Germany, currently he is also the Chairman of Pakistan Security Services and Systems Association (PSSSA).

The Balochistan Economic Forum has been designed to familiarize the national and international economic community with opportunities for Trade and Investment in the province of Balochistan. Since its inception, the Balochistan Economic Forum has played an important role in attracting foreign investment in the province of Balochistan and it continues to be the main powerhouse behind integrating foreign investment and has completed 25 years of its meritorious services this year.

PAGE: How would you comment on CPEC as a game changer?

Sardar Shoukat Popalzai: A Massive $62 billion investment project underway in Pakistan - the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is seen as a game changer for the country's economy. It is a flagship project under China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is designed to run through Asia, Europe and Africa connecting over 60 countries.

The CPEC is a collection of a wide variety of infrastructure projects throughout the country which were initiated as far back as 2013. While an investment of $47 billion was planned when CPEC was conceived, the figure has gone up over the years as more projects were added along the way, taking the total to $62 billion at last count.

The CPEC aims to rapidly upgrade country's infrastructure to strengthen its economy by the construction of modern transportation networks, several energy projects, and special economic zones. A vast network of highways and railways are to be built under the CPEC plan, which will span the length and...