Pakistan's Sharif Advocates Belt and Road Expansion

During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the expansion of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), emphasizing its role in enhancing regional trade cooperation and infrastructure development. He urged member states to invest in connectivity projects, highlighting that the SCO represents over 40% of the world's population and should not view such initiatives through a political lens. Sharif pointed to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a significant part of the BRI, which has already seen substantial Chinese investment in Pakistan's infrastructure. He also stressed the importance of stability in Afghanistan to unlock trade opportunities for the region. Critics of the BRI argue it leads to unsustainable debt in developing countries, while Western nations have proposed alternative infrastructure plans through the G7. The SCO summit marked a significant event in Pakistan's diplomatic calendar, attended by multiple prime ministers, including China's Premier Li Qiang.