Islamabad, The 91st meeting of the CPEC Projects Review and National Steering Committee was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal. 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 emphasized 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 the 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.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MoMA) and the Government of Sindh briefed participants on the latest progress of the Karachi Coastal Comprehensive Development Zone (KCCDZ) project. Expressing concern over implementation delays, the Federal Minister directed all stakeholders to submit their observations within the week and resolve all outstanding issues without further delay. He emphasized that MoUs must be implemented in accordance with agreed terms and applicable rules, stressing that agreements must translate into timely implementation rather than remain confined to paperwork. He urged all concerned institutions to take ownership of their commitments and directed the Government of Sindh, 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.
While reviewing the progress of the initiative to train 1,000 agriculture graduates in China, the Federal Minister 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. He 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. The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting industrial growth through reliable energy provision and highlighted the importance of resolving outstanding issues on a priority basis. He underscored the need for a coordinated strategy to expedite infrastructure development and ensure smooth power connectivity for zones.
The NHA informed that finalization of KKH- Phase II project financing will be discussed in the working group meeting expected in end of Aug, 26. The Minister directed that financing details should be finalized in the upcoming meeting in view of the deadline of 2028. If case there is delay, then the work on construction of the road should be started through own resources without further delay to avoid submerging of road in DB Dam Lake. He further said that possibility of inclusion of leading Pakistan construction companies in the bidding process should be explored.
The meeting was attended by Add. Secretary Planning, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Communications, Economic Affairs Division, Power Division, Petroleum Division, Board of Investment, Ministry of National Food Security & Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Industries & Production, Gwadar Development Authority, and the CPEC Secretariat.
