Ahsan Iqbal urges swift completion of CPEC-2 corridor concept papers

Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal Tuesday chaired a review meeting on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, stressing the urgency of preparing concept papers for five new corridors proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in August 2023.

“The concept papers for all CPEC Phase-II projects should be completed as soon as possible, aligning with these five new corridors,” he said while chairing a review meeting on CPEC projects in Islamabad on Tuesday. 

The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, secretaries of relevant ministries, heads of institutions, and senior officials.

Ahsan Iqbal reiterated that all Working Groups (WGs) have been directed to expedite the preparation of these concept papers.

Ahsan Iqbal informed the meeting that Pakistan and China have agreed to initiate work on these five corridors, which were aligned with Pakistan’s 5Es framework (Export, Energy, Equity, E-Pakistan and Environment) for its economic development. Elaborating the five new initiatives, he said that under the Livelihood Corridor provision of the best amenities to the people and creating employment opportunities were included.

Under the Innovation Corridor, the minister said new projects would be initiated through modern technology and imparting information technology skills to the youth. "While the CPEC would be used to promote connectivity and establish more friendly relations with Central Asian states under the Open Regional Cooperation." 

The Regional Connectivity Corridor will utilize CPEC to foster relations and promote connectivity with Central Asian states under the Open Regional Cooperation framework.

Ahsan Iqbal expressed confidence that comprehensive documents on these five corridors would be finalized by the end of August and presented during the visit of China's Prime Minister to Pakistan.

He instructed relevant stakeholders and ministry officials to collaboratively develop joint plans for these corridors and prepare five-year strategic plans under the CPEC portfolio for submission to the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC).

The Planning minister also directed the ministries concerned to prepare five-year plans under the CPEC portfolio for submission in the Joint Cooperation Committee, stressing to hold regular meetings of joint working groups in September so that the next five-year CPEC strategy could be evolved.

“Our aim should be industrial and commercial development and increase in foreign investment,” he said adding long-term projects be included in the working group with sector-wise breakup.

Ahsan Iqbal gave a 15-day timeline to all the ministries concerned to submit their CPEC-related projects.