The idea of the CPEC was combined plan of then President Asif Ali Zardari and China. It is a collection of infrastructure projects that are under construction throughout Pakistan since 2013.[3] Originally valued at $47 Billion, the value of CPEC projects is worth more than $70 Billion as of 2020.[4] CPEC is intended to rapidly upgrade Pakistan's required infrastructure and strengthen its economy by the construction of modern transportation networks, numerous energy projects, and special economic zones.[5][6][7][8] On 13 November 2016, CPEC became partly operational when Chinese cargo was transported overland to Gwadar Port for onward maritime shipment to Africa and West Asia,[9] while some major power projects were commissioned by late 2017.[10][11][12]