China Pakistan Economic Corridor: Challenges and Opportunities

Pak-China relations have been exemplary in the contemporary international politics. Both States have been maintaining strong ties in terms of diplomatic and military cooperation. However, the close economic cooperation has added a new dimension in the Pak-China all weather partnership. Over the years, China and Pakistan strategic cooperation has evolved at unprecedented level. In the year 2013, the Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the construction of One Belt One Road (OBOR) that aims to connect China with West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East. It is a bitter fact that, since 9/11 Pakistan has suffered in socio-political and especially in economic dimension. The regional security environment and rise of extremism and terrorism has resulted into the hampering economic development. Therefore, the CPEC project will prove to be game changer and when completed it will have deep impact on economic development of Pakistan in future. The CPEC provides an opportunity for Pakistan to stabilize its society and reshape its positive image at international level from fragile State to emerging economy in the South Asian region. The rise of China in economic sphere has been jealously seen by other developed countries while for Pakistan it has been a blessing factor. Thus, Pak- China strategic partnership entered into the new phase of economic cooperation that will certainly change the dynamics of the regional politics. This paper aims to discuss the multiple dimensions of CPEC its importance for Pakistan and China along with its internal and external challenges. Moreover, economic and security perspectives will be focused in detail. To fully understand the role of CPEC as driving force of economic prosperity, this paper discusses its potential as a game changer for both China and Pakistan. ___________

Mutational Analysis of Complete Coding Sequence of Toll Like Receptor-2 Gene in Achai and Lohani Cattle Breeds of Khyber Pakhtunkhwaprovince of Pakistan

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of type I transmembrane pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that play a critical role in the innate immune system. They recognize specific molecular patterns from a wide variety of pathogens and initiate a signaling cascade that mobilizes the appropriate host defense. They are usually expressed on membrane of various subclasses of immune and non-immune cells such as macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils, T-cells, B-cells, epithelial, endothelial and fibroblasts. In the present study, the genetic polymorphisms in Toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) gene was investigated in indigenous cattle breeds Achai and Lohani of Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa (KPK) province of Pakistan. The complete sequences of TLR2 gene composed of 5?UTR 136bp, coding sequence 2355bp and 3?UTR 1316 bp. The distribution of polymorphisms was explored in the coding region of TLR2 gene in studied two cattle breeds. The phylogenetic analysis was performed on the basis of coding region of TLR2 gene showed that the Bos indicus, Bos taurus as the nearest neighbors with other species bubalus bubalis, Bos frontalis, Bos grunniens, and Bison bison. The Ovis aries and Capra hircus in a separate group with Capra ibex, Antidorcas marsupialis, Damaliscus pygargus and the chicken (Gallus gallus) was found to be the farthest specie. The ratio of dS/dN substitutions was <1 at polymorphic-sites indicating purifying selection. A total of seven polymorphisms were detected in Achai cattle breed, in which two variations were synonymous and five mutations were non-synonymous. In the analysis, four polymorphisms were transitions type mutations and three were transversion. The amino acid [aa] sequences analysis of the coding region (784 aa) revealed extracellular domain composed of 20 leucine-rich repeats (LRRs), trans membrane and Toll-IL receptor domains. A total of four mutations were observed in Extracellular domain, one in transmembrane domain, and two in TIR domain of TLR-2 protein in Achai cattle breed. The Lohani cattle breed was more polymorphic at TLR2 gene and a total of 41 polymorphisms were detected including 20 variations were synonymous and 21 were identified non-synonymous. Similarly, the amino acid [aa] sequences analysis of the coding region (784 aa) revealed 12 extracellular domain composed of 20 LRRs, trans membrane and Toll-IL receptor domains. A total of 25 polymorphisms were observed in the Extracellular domain, four in transmembrane domain and five in TIR domain, one in signal peptide. The predicted bovine TLR2 is a succulent like having energetic sites buried inside the concave side and forming a pocket for ligand-binding. The present study findings show that the variation may be associated with pathogens associated molecular pattern (PAMPs) mediated differential TLR-signaling of bovine immune response and could regulate the consequence of infection