Some projects are not just roads, bridges, or power plants. Some are dreams carried in the eyes, promises written on the pages of history. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one such promise — one that is taking a neglected region like Gilgit-Baltistan into a new era. But this is not an unprecedented experience. Across the world, many major development projects were initially viewed with skepticism, yet time proved that these very projects transformed the destinies of nations. History bears witness: big projects bring big changes to societies.
When the United States began building the Interstate Highway System, many dismissed it as a waste of money. Today, those 48,000 miles of highways are the backbone of the American economy. Similarly, China’s Three Gorges Dam was criticized in its early stages, but today it stands as the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant, meeting a significant part of China’s energy needs. Germany’s Autobahn highway network also seemed like an expensive dream at first, but today it is a symbol of Europe’s strongest economy.
These projects prove that major development initiatives should not be judged for immediate results, but for their long-term impact. CPEC is one such project whose benefits will continue to serve Pakistan for decades to come.
Nature blessed Gilgit-Baltistan with unmatched beauty, but politics left it neglected. Today, thanks to CPEC, this region holds an important place not only in Pakistan’s economic landscape but in that of the entire region. The youth here no longer hold only stones and shovels — they hold opportunities and hope. When convoys from China pass along the Karakoram Highway, they are not just cargo trucks — they are messengers of progress.
Unfortunately, a coordinated propaganda campaign is trying to create the impression that only big cities are benefiting from CPEC. This is false. Are newly built roads, power projects under construction, and new job opportunities signs of “neglect”? Are the women who can now earn from home using their skills not part of this development? Are the young men who have found employment in construction projects not witnesses to this change?
The goal of propaganda is usually to mislead public opinion. Some people want Pakistan to remain underdeveloped, which is why they try to cast doubt on projects like CPEC. But the reality is that the development taking place in Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be ignored. Is the rise in tourism in Hunza a deception? Are projects like the Diamer-Bhasha Dam not providing employment to locals? Is the empowerment of women just a fabricated story?
These questions are a resounding reply to those who try to discredit CPEC.
CPEC is not just an economic corridor — it is a symbol of national unity. It is not just a representation of Pakistan-China friendship but a wave of development within Pakistan itself. Gilgit-Baltistan is at the forefront of this wave. On its rocky peaks, it is not only snow that is melting, but also the stagnation of backwardness.
The future is bright — we just need to recognize it. CPEC is not a magic wand that will transform everything overnight. It is a journey, and we are all travelers on it. If we seize this opportunity, future generations will remember us with gratitude. If not, history will never forgive us.
Written by: Soniya Zehra
Translated by: Tourism Guide Book