CONNECTIVITY IS THE SHORTCUT TO PROSPERITY: HELPING HAND FOR IRON BROTHER (巴铁) ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CPEC

As a symbol of Pak-China Friendship and the flagship project of One Belt One Road (OBOR), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is building the future of Pakistan. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the current and future performance of CPEC. To achieve the said purpose, we used published data from the official website of CPEC. By using Corridor Performance Indicators (CPI) techniques presented by Kunaka, C., & Carruthers, R. (2014), we found that the current performance of CPEC is pretty well. Based on the facts, we are also hoping that the future economic performance of CPEC will also viable and sustainable. Therefore, we can conclude the discussion by saying that CPEC is no doubt the lifeline for the economy of Pakistan.


BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION
Human race has been using geographic locations since olden periods for its greater benefit. Lands, specifically on the bank of rivers converted into centers of civilizations [1]. Later on, invention of new discoveries bridges the continents of the world and open gates of connectivity. The British domination on water ways transformed it into world power, by having colonies stretched from east to west. Chinese strategy to redesign 21st century "Maritime Silk Road" is also spinning around various global geostrategic hubs and tracking the agenda of inter-regional connectivity by sea route and economic belt [2]. It is an understood fact that new approaches are needed to discover for effective use of geographic location for economic wellbeing and competitive growth [3]. An economic geographical system (a system which draws the economic landscape in a vibrant manner and inhabits it with economic forces through employment opportunities, production facilities, economic corridors, and eco-friendly space) permits the dissemination of benefits accumulating across the region in numerous investment settings [3]. Past literature can't reveal the standard picture of the benefits that can be taken through economic geographic location [4] [5] [6] [7]. Economic corridors tie economy forces (agents) beside a welldefined geographical location. They create a sort of association between economic centers, typically adjusted on metropolitan landscapes, where larger economic resources and forces are concerted. They linkage the demandsupply sides of marketplaces. Economic corridors are not only built for transportation purposes, but also an integral part to strengthen economy and its agents. Economic corridors can't perform efficiently in isolation, but they have to be as part of incorporated economic networks between countries and regions [3].
The Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the visit to Southeast and Central Asia in 2013, marked the initiative taken by China to build 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and Economic Belt (Belt and Road) [8]. The core purpose of Belt and Road (B&R) initiative is to attain economic benefits, regional collaboration, strengthen connections, mutual trust and promote peace [9]. It can also be seen as a global project, which pursues to assimilate the developmental policies of the associated countries into a multi-modal network [10]. The project is a fine example of Chinese five principles of "Peaceful Co-existence": respect for independence and integrity, non-aggression environment, non-interference atmosphere, joint benefit and equivalence, and peaceful existence [11]. As geo-strategic partners, China and Pakistan have 520km extended boundary and have glorified years of mutual co-operation and assistance. China has been compassionated to provide helping hand to Pakistan on numerous incidents and Pakistan also responds as trustworthy partner and friend [10]. That's why, China declare Pakistan as Iron Brother (巴铁).

BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND SIGNIFICANCE
Friendship between China and Pakistan has been labelled as "higher than mountains, deeper than the oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel". The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one the best example of Pak-China friendship. CPEC was officially initiated on the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2015. President Xi also became the first Chinese president who address the National Assembly of Pakistan and admired the Pakistan 's supportive behavior at the time when China stood isolated [12].
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also remarked that "If One Belt, One Road is like a symphony involving and benefiting every country, then construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the sweet melody of the symphony 's first movement" [13]. CPEC is a unique opportunistic gateway of global trade corridor in 21st century, which links markets across Europe, west Asia and Africa, through an alternative land route i.e. from Gwadar (Pakistan) to Kashgar (China). CPEC opens up new horizon of socio-political and economic development in aforementioned regions of the world [2].
Gwadar port also renowned as "all-weather, all-season port", situated nearby the Persian Gulf [14]. Because of its strategic position (at the gateway to Arabian Sea), Gwadar port allows a straight access to the Indian Sea and evades "the Straits of Malacca". It is also nearest to "the Strait of Hormuz" by which approximately one third