The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), often lauded as a transformative initiative, has faced significant criticism for its performance in Gwadar, which was intended to be the flagship project of the megaproject. Instead of bringing the promised development and employment opportunities, many locals report that CPEC projects have disrupted existing livelihoods and exacerbated challenges in the region.

CPEC’s ambitions for Gwadar included the creation of 2 million jobs, but these goals remain far from being achieved. Eve Register, a research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Foundation in Canada, described the situation as emblematic of the broader challenges facing China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “Gwadar’s CPEC projects have come to embody the shortcomings of the BRI and have been described by analysts as ‘dying a slow death,’” she noted. Register is also a member of NATO DEEP’s Global Threats Advisory Group.

Local businesses and political leaders have expressed deep frustration. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, an activist and politician, highlighted how the arrival of CPEC projects and associated infrastructure has........

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