Beijing (TDI): Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday inaugurated a high-level workshop to develop a roadmap for the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The 14-day workshop will be attended by Pakistani and Chinese experts at the National Research and Development Center (NRDC).
Addressing the ceremony, Iqbal said that the all-weather friendship between Pakistan and China has flourished without interruption for decades.
“In the garden of our friendship, there has never been an autumn; it has always remained a vibrant spring,” he remarked.
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The minister stated that during the first phase of CPEC, Pakistan had made significant achievements in the fields of energy, infrastructure, and digital connectivity.
The minister noted that 17 completed energy projects have contributed 8,904 MW of power to the national grid, while over 888 kilometres of motorways and highways have been constructed.
He added that under CPEC, Gwadar Port was evolving as a regional connectivity hub, while the fibre optic cable was helping Pakistan on the digital front.
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Iqbal noted that CPEC projects had directly and indirectly created more than 200,000 jobs in the country, besides benefiting local communities and improving livelihoods.
CPEC Phase II Roadmap
Unveiling the roadmap, Iqbal said that the second phase of CPEC includes the establishment of five new corridors: Growth Corridor, Livelihood Corridor, Green Corridor, Innovation Corridor, and Opening-Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor.
He stated that these corridors were in line with Pakistan’s “5Es Framework,” which prioritizes exports, digitization, environmental sustainability, energy and infrastructure, and equitable development.
Iqbal said Pakistan should learn from China’s development journey, especially its efforts in poverty alleviation and technological advancement.
Read More: China, Pakistan Discuss CPEC, Gwadar Plan
He said the government was committed to continuing cooperation with China in the fields of green development, technology, regional connectivity, and economic resilience.
“Together, the two nations can turn challenges into opportunities for mutual benefit and regional stability,” he added.
