ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Prof Ahsan Iqal, has directed all ministries and divisions to finalize proposals of development projects for an upcoming Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting to be held in July 2023. The meeting is expected to celebrate the completion of ten years of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative.
According to officials, during a meeting to review progress over CPEC projects held here on Wednesday, the Minister highlighted the importance of completing the ongoing projects in a timely manner. The meeting was attended by senior officials from various ministries, divisions, and stakeholders.
The CPEC agreement was signed between Pakistan and China on July 5, 2013, during the tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. As the ten-year mark approaches, the Minister directed all concerned parties to hold meetings of Joint Working Groups (JWGs) regularly to ensure that the projects are completed on time.
In addition, the Minister urged each ministry to prepare a detailed report on its project, highlighting the economic and social benefits it would bring to Pakistan. He emphasized that the decade of CPEC should be celebrated while rejecting negative propaganda against the initiative.
The minister claims since coming into power in April last year, the present government has expedited the CPEC projects, and the Minister’s visit to China in April 2023 further strengthened ties between the two countries. The Minister also directed the relevant ministry to expedite work on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract Chinese industry’s relocation to Pakistan with low-cost production.
As per details, over the past ten years, CPEC has contributed significantly to Pakistan’s economic growth, particularly in the areas of energy, infrastructure, and industrial development. The project has already completed several significant projects, including the construction of the Gwadar Port and the installation of the fiber-optic cable network between China and Pakistan.
The upcoming JCC meeting is expected to further cement the partnership between Pakistan and China and chart a course for the next ten years of the CPEC initiative.
