ISLAMABAD: The eastern route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been found to be the most advantageous in terms of provincial representation, regional and trans-border connectivity, tourism, and socio-economic benefits, while Islamabad and Dera Ismail Khan have been identified as the top economic and transport hubs due to their strategic locations and interconnectivity.

This was the crux of a consultative session on transformation of transport corridors into economic corridors presided over by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.

The eastern route is the most viable and shortest travel time option, according to member infrastructure Waqas Anwar. This route connects Gwadar, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan, Islamabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Chilas and Gilgit, terminating at Khunjerab on the Pakistan-China border.

The session noted that while the shortest travel time route combines elements of both the central and eastern routes, it fails to adequately represent provincial interests, particularly underrepresenting Sindh.

Islamabad, D.I. Khan identified as top economic, transport hubs........

© Dawn Business