Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high level progress review meeting on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Islamabad, bringing together senior officials and representatives from key ministries to evaluate ongoing implementation. The session focused on accelerating work across priority projects and ensuring that CPEC 2.0 continues to align with Pakistan’s broader economic transformation agenda.
Reviewing progress across critical sectors
During the meeting, Minister Iqbal received detailed briefings on the current status of initiatives in energy, transport, industrial cooperation, Gwadar development, agriculture and science and technology. He emphasized that each ministry must adopt a results driven approach, removing bottlenecks and ensuring timely execution of commitments made under the bilateral framework. The review also highlighted the need to enhance coordination across federal and provincial agencies to keep development timelines on track.
Strengthening CPEC 2.0 as an engine of growth
Minister Iqbal stressed that the second phase of CPEC is centered on industrialization, technological advancement and the creation of new economic opportunities. He underscored the importance of Special Economic Zones and encouraged ministries to expedite infrastructure development required to attract foreign and domestic investment. Through expanded industrial cooperation and technology transfer from Chinese partners, Pakistan aims to diversify its manufacturing base and strengthen export capacity.
Gwadar’s strategic role reaffirmed
The development of Gwadar remained an important discussion point. Minister Iqbal reiterated that the port city must be transformed into a vibrant hub of maritime trade, fisheries, logistics and tourism. Accelerated work on infrastructure, utilities and investment facilitation will position Gwadar as a key driver of Pakistan’s blue economy and a central node in regional connectivity.
Enhancing collaboration and addressing bottlenecks
The Minister directed relevant departments to intensify inter ministerial coordination and to proactively resolve administrative, financial and technical issues that could delay project execution. He stressed that CPEC must move forward with renewed momentum to deliver tangible benefits for the economy and improve livelihoods across provinces.
A unified push toward the next JCC session
As Pakistan prepares for the upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee meeting, Minister Iqbal emphasized the importance of presenting a cohesive, well prepared set of deliverables. He urged all stakeholders to finalize proposals, update progress reports and present actionable plans that demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to advancing CPEC 2.0 as a strategic pillar of national development.
