Ahsan Iqbal suggests early meeting of CPEC working groups

Seeks cooperation with Beijing in the area of digital technology

BEIJING: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the most important pillar of the Belt and Road Initiative and due to commitment and sincerity from both countries the vision of CPEC is fast translating into reality, said Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal.

During a meeting with National Development Reforms Commission (NDRC) Vice Chairman Ning Jizhe, Iqbal said CPEC projects had shown positive progress over the past five years in Pakistan, which achieved 5.8% GDP growth in the current fiscal year, the highest in the past 12 years and was still growing.



“We have almost overcome the energy crisis, which was denting our economy,” he remarked and cited the start of energy projects in Sahiwal and Port Qasim as a testament of the high speed with which CPEC projects had been completed.

Iqbal apprised the NDRC vice chairman of other CPEC projects in the fields of infrastructure, energy, Gwadar and Special Economic Zones. He emphasised fast completion of Gwadar projects, particularly the five-million-gallon-per-day water desalination plant, and early approval of Khuzdar-Basima and DI Khan-Zhob-Quetta highway projects.

He proposed that CPEC’s Joint Working Groups for energy, infrastructure, planning and agriculture should meet next month to fast-track approval of projects.



In the wake of the emerging fourth industrial revolution, the minister called for cooperation in the field of digital economy and proposed the establishment of a new Joint Working Group for that area.

The Chinese side appreciated the idea and agreed in principle. It was decided that cooperation in the agriculture sector would be expanded in the light of the Long Term Plan to boost agricultural productivity of Pakistan.

Iqbal underscored the need for greater procurement from the local market wherever competitive goods and services were available and the vice chairman agreed with the proposal.

Speaking on the occasion, Ning appreciated the minister’s contribution to making CPEC successful and expressed the hope that as an experienced counterpart in CPEC, Iqbal would be a big help for him.