ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Tuesday highlighted that the CPEC had played a transformative role in strengthening Pakistan’s energy security, infrastructure and connectivity, while laying the foundations of a modern economic architecture.
Addressing the annual awards ceremony for Outstanding Pakistani and Chinese Staff of CPEC Projects 2026 here, he noted that with 43 projects worth approximately USD25 billion completed and nearly 9,000MW added to the national grid, Pakistan had made significant progress in overcoming longstanding structural challenges.
He emphasized that CPEC was now entering Phase II, marking a strategic shift from infrastructure development to industrialisation, innovation and inclusive growth.
He outlined that CPEC 2.0 is being advanced through a comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan (2025–2029), aligned with Pakistan’s URAAN Pakistan framework, and structured around key priority areas including industrial development through Special Economic Zones, digital and technological collaboration under the Digital Silk Road, renewable energy and climate resilience, people-centered livelihood initiatives and enhanced regional connectivity.
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed continued commitment of both countries to advancing an upgraded version of CPEC 2.0, noting that bilateral cooperation was expanding into new sectors, including agriculture, mining and social development. He highlighted strong growth in agricultural trade, increasing mineral exports and ongoing collaboration across the full value chain to translate Pakistan’s resource potential into economic value.
The event concluded with the award distribution ceremony, where Ahsan Iqbal and Jiang Zaidong jointly presented awards to outstanding Pakistani and Chinese staff, recognizing their valuable contributions to the continued success of CPEC projects.
