The 81st progress review meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal. The session aimed to evaluate advancements across multiple sectors, including infrastructure, energy, petroleum, water resources, agriculture, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), according to a press release issued on Wednesday.
One of the key topics was the Karakoram Highway (KKH) project. It was shared that a Chinese technical team is expected to visit Pakistan soon to assess various aspects, particularly the financial feasibility. Minister Ahsan Iqbal instructed all relevant departments to finalize the minutes of working group meetings to prepare for the upcoming 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) session.
The Minister highlighted the importance of the CPEC Review Meeting as a crucial decision-making platform, calling for active participation from all ministries to ensure continued progress and coordination under the CPEC framework. It was noted that the JCC session is likely to take place soon, and in this regard, the Minister directed all Joint Working Groups (JWGs) to conduct internal meetings in July 2025.
He also urged the JWGs to present well-defined and actionable proposals regarding the proposed extension of CPEC into Afghanistan, asking for these to be submitted promptly to the CPEC Secretariat. Updates submitted by various ministries were also discussed during the session.
While appreciating the timely updates from some ministries, the Minister encouraged others to submit their progress reports in the standardized format to ensure consistency and alignment with project timelines. The meeting also reviewed issues related to power supply for CPEC SEZs, reaffirming the government’s support for industrial development through consistent energy availability. He emphasized the urgent need to address energy-related issues in zones such as Rashakai.
Regarding the Siah Diq Copper Mine Project in Chaghi, the Ministry of Petroleum was asked to assess the broader copper potential in the region and evaluate the feasibility of establishing a smelting facility. Ensuring timely completion of feasibility studies was stressed to align with the investment schedule.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research informed the forum that agricultural machinery had been distributed to all provinces. The Minister advised collecting feedback and utilization data from provincial governments to assess the effectiveness of the equipment’s deployment.
On Gwadar’s 1.2 MGD desalination plant, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Gwadar Port Authority were asked to prepare a detailed operational plan. This should include aspects such as water tariff structure, supply area mapping, and defined roles for operations. The Minister also proposed organizing an inauguration ceremony to mark the plant’s activation, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving essential services like water and electricity in Gwadar.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzoor Sumra and senior officials from various ministries and departments, including Foreign Affairs, Interior, Communications, Economic Affairs, Power, Petroleum, Board of Investment, Food Security, Science and Technology, IT and Telecom, Maritime Affairs, Industries, Gwadar Development Authority, and the CPEC Secretariat.
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