Pakistan Reviews CPEC Phase-II Progress, Plans New Projects – Minister
By Amna Tahir | CPEC Today
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s planning minister on Wednesday urged ministries to accelerate work on new projects under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) following a high-level review meeting in Islamabad.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal chaired the first post-14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting to assess progress on ongoing projects. He directed ministries to fast-track development in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and prioritize initiatives that bring long-term benefits to the public.
Iqbal said the 14th JCC meeting marked the start of a “new chapter” in Pakistan-China relations and announced that the 15th JCC would be held in Pakistan next year to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties.
He said CPEC’s second phase would focus on agriculture, industry, people-to-people cooperation and information technology, with greater private sector involvement and youth skill development.
Iqbal added that aligning Pakistan’s “Five Es” with China’s “Five Corridors” would ensure development continuity. He also highlighted the impact of a Chinese-assisted desalination plant in improving Gwadar’s water supply.
The minister reaffirmed that Phase-II would be implemented with the same consistency that led to the successful completion of Phase-I. He said Pakistan had signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Development Research Center to boost exports and improve policy formulation.
