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Despite the optimistic outlook, the rapid proliferation of BRI projects has raised concerns over mounting debt burdens among participant countries. Many nations, particularly poorer and underdeveloped ones, have accumulated substantial Chinese loans—Pakistan, for instance, owes China approximately $60 billion through CPEC. The COVID-19 pandemic has further strained these countries' fiscal positions, complicating debt repayment and raising fears of a debt trap that could compromise national sovereignty.