has CPEC started producing anything yet? What is Pakistan planning to do in CPEC other than a transit for goods produced in western china? So much is unknown , What will we do in CPEC?
The answer is very simple. Check out the map of the US, pick any major highway, and see what's around it. If I was to guess, each major US interstate highway and neighboring areas, if it was a business, would be worth in trillions. It is these highways that linked all the states together and the oceans on all end, then linked the US with Mexico and with Canada, with these countries, we do billions worth of trade every year, two-way. With Mexico, it is around $ 525+ billion two way, with Canada, it is around $ 575 billion two-way!! So imagine that, just two countries connected produce over $ 1 trillion worth of trade through the roads and highways!
This doesn't include the stay of drivers, oil for trucks, mechanical shops, parts, meals that millions of trucker buy every day. Now the same highway system runs the US economy, a $ 19 trillion worth of system. If none of these highways existed, we wouldn't have all this. Take a look at Antarctica, no highways, no business or even population
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Similarly, this highway is around 2600 KM's just inside Pakistan. Then it connects to various other cities so another 1000 km's worth of area would have a highway that currently doesn't have a farm to market system in place. Miami (one end of the East Coast) and New York City (the other end of the coast for easy comparison) is about 2000 KM's. Now for you or your Indian friends who've been to the US, ask them how much wealth is in this 2000 miles radius? If I was to guess, probably $ 6-8 trillion worth of the US economy runs from he East Coast alone!! This wasn't all these as a gift from God, Al Gore's father and many of our leaders designed these highways for this specific purpose.
Now imagine growing a 4000 KM highway network inside Pakistan (CPEC), that is just empty land right now but there is plenty of population and educated talent. Over a decade or two, this one route would alone create dozens of small and large cities, with dry ports (stuff going between China, Central Russian States, Russia, Pakistan and Iran), rail system, dozens of new airports, hospitals, truck stops, mechanics, doctor's offices, schools, residential housing communities, hotels, stadiums, universities, small shops to fulfill local population's needs, expansion of business from all around Pakistan who would want to expand to new cities, dozens of new power plants, millions of new cars will also be sold to fulfill the needs for this population who'd live here, connected to the CPDC, etc, etc.
I could write a book on how massive this engagement would be between now and the next 15-20 years. Now add toll collected by these trucks and transportation across this route between so many nations. That's billions of tolls every year if you are using it for China and other countries. And I'm not adding foreign investments to create more businesses, Chinese manufacturing, electronic / semi conductor industry, call centers, IT.
Now if you still can't see how easily India can make $ 10-15 billion dollars by trade through CPEC and by road, there is nothing I can write that would make you realize the potential. Not to mention, through this route, all enemy drama and animosity will end. You'll become "acquaintance / business associates" with the Pakistanis. Through that, you'd automatically become the same with the Chinese. And with hundreds of millions of people on all ends connected through roads and making their living, a true peace can actually be accomplished. Sooner or later, you have no choice but to join this. So why not join it sooner and not be embarrassed?
