A study conducted by scientists from China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group has estimated the cost of a proposed China-Pakistan railway project to be $57.7 billion. The railway will connect Gwadar Port with Xinjiang’s Kashgar, and is expected to have strategic significance, potentially reshaping trade and geopolitics. The project will improve connectivity among the countries along the ancient Silk Road trade routes and is part of a plan to reduce dependence on Western-dominated routes.

The study urges the Chinese government and financial institutions to provide strong support for the project, including increasing coordination and collaboration among relevant domestic departments and striving for the injection of support funds. Pakistan’s economy is expected to receive a much-needed boost from the infrastructure and will easily trade with China. The researchers said the project is expected to create more jobs, boost infrastructure investment, and increase trade.

However, the study notes that Pakistan’s GDP last year was just six times the estimated cost of the project, making sufficient financing difficult. Pakistan is mainly relying on Chinese enterprises for investment and construction, as it is unable to provide sufficient financial and material support.

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Moreover, the security issues in Pakistan pose a risk to Chinese workers and investments, which may hinder the railway project. Despite these challenges, the study emphasizes the strategic significance of the railway project and urges strong support and policy guarantees for its construction.