Muhammad Haseeb Raza ^1* Inam Ullah Khalil ² Ibrar M. Khan ² Shahrukh Khan ³ Li Hongwei ³ Kong Deji ³ Baoyu Cui ³

• ¹ Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
• ² Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
• ³ Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China

Roads and infrastructure are widely acknowledged for their critical role in driving economic growth and enhancing local livelihoods. This study aims to explore how local communities in Pakistan perceive the impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a foreign-funded development initiative focused on infrastructure and road construction. Specifically, the research seeks to answer the question: How do local communities in Pakistan perceive the effects of CPEC development initiatives on their satisfaction? To address this question cross-sectional data were collected from 527 residents, and structural equation modeling was utilized for analysis. The findings indicate a positive correlation between the expansion of CPEC infrastructure and community satisfaction, along with perceived benefits. Conversely, a negative correlation was identified with perceived costs. Particularly, perceived benefits significantly influence community satisfaction, while perceived costs demonstrated an insignificant relationship. These finding are valuable for policymakers, development practitioners, and government agencies, informing the design of future development projects that involve international cooperation. By considering local community perceptions and expectations, support for initiatives like the CPEC route can be strengthened, ensuring the sustainability and continuity of such development efforts.