ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Minister, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a meeting on Thursday to assess the progress of CPEC projects, particularly those decisions finalized during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent trip to China.
During the meeting, Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the consensus between Chinese and Pakistani leadership on advancing the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, known as CPEC phase 2.
He highlighted that his recent visit to China built upon discussions between the Prime Minister and Chinese President and Prime Minister, focusing on strategic implementation to ensure the success of CPEC phase 2.
Speaking about global interest in China’s economic development model, Minister Ahsan Iqbal noted Pakistan’s significant benefits as the largest recipient of China’s economic initiatives and open market since 2018 through CPEC.
However, he acknowledged that progress had slowed after 2018, causing Pakistan to lag behind while other regional corridors completed their projects.
Despite these challenges, Ahsan Iqbal underscored the ongoing importance of CPEC due to Pakistan’s strategic geographical position.
He urged the Ministry of Railways to accelerate documentation and preparatory steps for the ML1 project, announcing plans for an early meeting of the Joint Financing Committee within a month to advance discussions on this critical initiative.
Emphasizing the need for meticulous planning and collaboration among ministries and institutions, Minister Ahsan Iqbal called for concerted efforts to ensure timely completion of CPEC projects.
He highlighted agreements between China and Pakistan to commence work on the ML1 project soon, with specifics to be determined in the upcoming Joint Financing Committee meeting.
Furthermore, Ahsan Iqbal urged the Railway and National Highway Authority (NHA) to develop a comprehensive master plan for regional road construction under CPEC.
This plan, he stressed, would enhance connectivity across the region and position Pakistan as a catalyst for global economic growth.
