Despite whims and wishes, CPEC Phase 2.0 has not yet gained any “momentum” in Pakistan due to many “multidimensional” reasons, ranging from structural flaws, an unproductive bureaucratic system, imbalanced policymaking, isolated safety and security of Chinese investors and workers and the total failure of Pakistan Planning Commission and Finance Ministry to devise any “alternative” mechanism to “pay back” long-pending payments of Chinese IPPs.

Emerging socio-economic preferences, geopolitical readjustments and geo-strategic outreach have badly “derailed” the pace, productivity and progress of CPEC Phase 2.0. The Pak-US “Metals & Minerals” Corporation has “annoyed” Beijing and “dried” Chinese investments, while inclusion of France, UK, Germany and Turkiye in minerals exploration has further “irked” the Chinese.

Increasing Pak-US ties are fueling “speculations” of Islamabad shifting from Beijing to Washington DC, creating insecurity among the two “Iron Clad” brothers. Policymakers should “reevaluate” geopolitical end gains and socio-economic profit and loss ratios before indulging in a new end game because variables of reliability, durability and trustworthiness have a “bitter” history in Pakistan’s past alliance with the USA. Prominent security expert Dr Moeed Yusuf, during the Margalla Dialogue 2025, floated an out-of-the-box idea of “US-China” joint cooperation in Pakistan’s metals and minerals sector, offering ample opportunities for regional countries in safety and security. However, due to emerging regional and global metals and........

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