Iqbal reviews CPEC 2.0 progress

Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, presided over a meeting on Thursday to review the implementation status of decisions regarding CPEC projects, particularly those made during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China.

“There is complete agreement between the leaderships of China and Pakistan on the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, also known as CPEC 2.0,” he stated.

The minister highlighted that his recent visit to China continued the PM’s discussions with Chinese leaders, focusing on the strategic implementation of these decisions to ensure CPEC 2.0’s success. He highlighted the global interest in China’s economic development model and noted that Pakistan was the biggest beneficiary of this model until progress slowed after 2018.

Despite setbacks, Iqbal stressed CPEC’s continued importance due to Pakistan’s strategic geographical position. He urged the Ministry of Railways to expedite the documentation and preparatory steps for the ML1 project.

“During my recent visit to China, we agreed to convene an early meeting of the Joint Financing Committee for the ML1 project, which will take place within a month,” he announced.

He called for full preparation by the Ministry of Railways and other departments for this critical meeting and urged a collaborative effort to ensure timely completion of CPEC projects. Additionally, he called for a comprehensive master plan for road construction to connect the region and serve as an engine of global economic growth.