Pakistan and China Launch CPEC Phase II at 14th JCC

New long-term plan aligns Pakistan’s 5Es with CPEC’s Five Corridors

P.c. China Pakistan Economic Corridor

Pakistan and China Launch CPEC Phase II at 14th JCC


Pakistan and China have officially launched CPEC Phase II during the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting in Beijing, marking a historic step in their strategic partnership. Both nations agreed to publish an updated CPEC Long Term Plan within 90 days, reflecting Pakistan’s URAAN 5Es framework—Exports, E-Pakistan, Energy & Environment, and Equity & Empowerment—aligned with the Five Corridors of Growth, Innovation, Green Development, Livelihood, and Regional Connectivity.

P.c. China Pakistan Economic Corridor

In his remarks, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal underlined that this milestone is more than a review of past achievements; it signals a renewed determination to build a future of shared prosperity. The minister highlighted flagship projects under Phase II, including the ML-1 Railway, Karakoram Highway realignment, Special Economic Zones, agriculture modernisation, and Gwadar’s development. These, he stressed, would unlock industrialisation, technology transfer, sustainability, and wider regional benefits.

To ensure momentum, Pakistan has proposed holding JCC meetings every six months and quarterly sessions of Joint Working Groups for the first three years of Phase II. Ahsan Iqbal also reassured Chinese partners of Pakistan’s full commitment to the security of CPEC projects and Chinese personnel in the country.

The minister reaffirmed that CPEC remains a symbol of the iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China, one rooted in trust, stability, and mutual respect. He expressed optimism that the coming decade under CPEC Phase II will surpass the transformative progress of the first phase. Looking ahead, he proposed that the 15th JCC meeting be held in Islamabad in May 2026, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.