Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal left for Beijing on Sunday to attend the 14th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), scheduled for September 26.
Speaking before his departure, the minister highlighted the strategic importance of the session, describing it as a step toward giving “practical shape” to the 2025–29 Action Plan agreed upon during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China. He said the JCC will finalise the roadmap for the second phase of CPEC, focusing on industrial collaboration, technology, green energy, agriculture, and Special Economic Zones.
Calling China Pakistan’s “most reliable friend,” Iqbal said both nations would work hand in hand to ensure mutual prosperity. He noted that Pakistan’s economy was showing signs of stability and entering a new era of growth under CPEC Phase-II.
Reflecting on the first phase, Iqbal said over $33 billion in Chinese investment had powered key projects, including Sahiwal, Port Qasim, and Hub coal plants, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, the Thar coal project, a vast motorway network, and the development of Gwadar Port. He said these initiatives laid the foundation for connectivity and national integration.
Looking forward, the minister stressed that Phase-II would create jobs, enhance exports, and help Pakistan capture a greater share of China’s $2 trillion annual imports. He emphasised aligning CPEC with Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” framework, which prioritises growth, livelihood, innovation, green economy, and regional development.
“CPEC 2.0 is our path to an export-oriented economy and long-term prosperity,” he said, expressing confidence that this new phase would reignite momentum and deliver lasting benefits for future generations.
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