ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday decided in principle to proceed with the Karakoram Highway (KKH) Phase-II project under CPEC, opting to secure Chinese financing while keeping the option of funding the project from own resources if external financing could not be arranged.
According to an official announcement, the 91st meeting of the CPEC Projects Review and National Steering Committee was held here with Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal in the chair.
The session brought together key stakeholders to assess ongoing developments across sectors including infrastructure, power, petroleum, water resources, food and agriculture, joint working Group (JWG) meeting, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
The minister emphasised that the CPEC 2.0 offers immense opportunities to build upon the successes of CPEC 1.0 by taking advantage of investments in energy and physical infrastructure.
He directed all ministries to work expeditiously on implementation of the five corridors of CPEC 2.0, namely the Corridors of Growth, Livelihood, Innovation, Green Development and Regional Connectivity.
The Pakistan Mission in Beijing and respective JWG conveners briefed the forum on the latest status of preparations for the upcoming JWG meetings and the 15th JCC meeting.
It was noted that the calendar had been finalized in consultation with the respective conveners and shared with the Pakistan Mission in Beijing to facilitate coordination with the Chinese side.
The Pakistan Mission in Beijing and the conveners of the respective JWGs also briefed the forum on the latest status of scheduling the JWG meetings and the 15th JCC meeting.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MoMA) and the Sindh government briefed the participants on the latest progress of the Karachi Coastal Comprehensive Development Zone (KCCDZ) project.
Expressing concern over implementation delays, the minister directed all stakeholders to submit their observations within a week and resolve all outstanding issues without further delay.
He emphasized that MoUs must be implemented in accordance with the agreed terms and applicable rules, stressing that agreements must translate into timely implementation rather than remain confined to paperwork.
He urged all institutions concerned to take ownership of their commitments and directed the Sindh government, MoMA, and the Board of Investment (BOI) to hold meeting with the Chinese company to resolve technical issues and expedite the project’s implementation through regular coordination.
Reviewing the progress of the initiative to train 1,000 agriculture graduates in China, Ahsan stressed that the expertise acquired by the trained graduates must be effectively utilized for the benefit of Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
He directed the relevant authorities to present, in the next meeting, a comprehensive plan outlining the areas of specialization, deployment, and future roles of the trained graduates.
Emphasizing the need to align training with national priorities, he called for greater focus on biotechnology, seed development, high-yield crop varieties, digital extension services, AI-driven agriculture, and cooperative farm management.
The minister further instructed officials to develop a five-year human resource and sectoral development roadmap so that future training programmes are based on the country’s actual agricultural needs.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the Power Supply Stability Project for Gwadar Port and the Free Zone.
