Local Community Impact-Attitudes-Actions towards China Pakistan Economic Corridor Development in Pakistan

Shahrukh Khan¹Sehresh Hena¹Inam Ullah Khalil²Muhammad Haseeb Raza³Li Hongwei¹Kong Deji¹Reda Abdelfattah Mohammad⁴Baoyu Cui^1*

• ¹Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
• ²Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
• ³Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
• ⁴King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

Development projects bring significant economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits to local communities. The success of such projects depends largely on the attitudes, perceived impacts, and supportive behaviors of local residents. However, under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the attitudes of local groups remain underexplored, with limited survey data available. This study investigates how CPEC development influences the attitudes of residents in Gilgit-Baltistan by identifying advantages that stimulate both passive and active support. Data were collected through 600 questionnaires distributed over two months, with 527 valid responses retained for final analysis, yielding an 85.83% response rate after excluding incomplete or improperly filled questionnaires. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study examines complex relationships between perceived impacts, attitudes, and supportive actions. Results reveal positive effects of economic and social impacts on residents' attitudes, while environmental concerns negatively influence them. Overall, the local community shows strong support for the development of CPEC, with a significant positive relationship observed between their attitudes and supportive behaviors. The findings provide theoretical insights and practical policy recommendations for CPEC officials, emphasizing the importance of integrating local community perspectives into policymaking.