Development and Sustainability of Rural Economy of Pakistan through Local Community Support for CPEC

Inam Ullah Khalil, Sehresh Hena, Usman Ghani, Raza Ullah, Inayatullah Jan, Abdul Rauf, Abdul Rehman (), Azhar Abbas and Luan Jingdong
Additional contact information
Inam Ullah Khalil: College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Sehresh Hena: College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Usman Ghani: College of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
Raza Ullah: Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Inayatullah Jan: Institute of Development Studies (IDS), The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan
Abdul Rauf: School of Management Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Azhar Abbas: Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Luan Jingdong: College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: This paper investigates the local community support for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) using the lens of social exchange theory. The study examines the direct effect of social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors on the local community support for CPEC projects, and the resultant impacts on the development and sustainability of the rural economy of Pakistan. The study also explores the moderation effect of media influence on shaping positive perceptions of CPEC among the local populace. The local communities at the CPEC route which are affected or can be affected by the project were targeted for data collection using a structured questionnaire. The collected valid data (N = 259) were thoroughly analyzed by obtaining reliability and validity statistics, a correlation matrix, multiple regression, moderation analysis, and hypotheses testing. Our results substantiate that the local community support for the CPEC project is heavily dependent on social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors and that there is a positive influence of media impact as an opinion-maker in the local community regarding the CPEC. The CPEC is expected to develop the rural economy, particularly through improvements in agriculture and allied activities, thereby providing livelihoods and income-generating opportunities to the rural masses. The article is important for regulators, the CPEC authority, government bodies, and the relevant community.

Keywords: rural development; sustainability; CPEC; media influence; agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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