IBA China Study Centre hosts G3 CPEC Summit.

• Position: Institute of Business Administration's summit entitled "'China Pakistan Economic Corridor: Emerging Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Landscape Opportunities and Challenges"

The China Study Centre (CSC) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi hosted a day-long summit titled, 'CPEC: Emerging Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Landscape Opportunities and Challenges' at the IBA City Campus. Attendees included policymakers, opinion builders, academia, media, members of the IBA faculty, staff and students.

The aim of the hybrid Summit was to explore and identify the future opportunities and challenges for China, Pakistan and Afghanistan economic, information and trade corridor in the wake of recent developments in the region, specifically the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the role of the new Afghan government in regional connectivity.

Dr. Wajid Hussain Rizvi, Dean, School of Business Studies at the IBA Karachi delivered the welcome address virtually.

Dr. Nasir A. Afghan, Director, China Study Centre shed light on the importance of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is the economic lifeline for Pakistan. "We want to demystify CPEC and the evolving challenges and opportunities it brings. Taliban is the new reality in Afghanistan and we need to learn to live with the new reality." He further talked about creating a bridge between all parties and emphasized that a future that brings peace, respect and dignity for all is the need of the hour for the region and beyond. "Pakistan has historically been part of the Silk Road and has always been connected with the Central Asian civilizations. It is time we reconnect with the roots economically and socially".

The first keynote speaker of the event, Mr. Khalid Mansoor, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CPEC Affairs joined the session virtually from Lahore. "It is about time people know the reality of CPEC as there is so much negativity around it and it is now time to share its progress." He highlighted the three phases of the CPEC roadmap which initiated in 2015 and will go up to 2030. "The first phase focuses on alleviating the power crisis and infrastructure development. The second phase focuses on the mid-term projects which will be completed till 2025."

He shared details about the progress made in the different phases of CPEC. As for the West, and how it views CPEC, Mr. Mansoor mentioned, "The U.S. and Europe views it as China's political ambition, rather than focusing on the regional connectivity it is bringing." He further highlighted that CPEC is progressing in the right direction, it is the era of industrialization in Pakistan...