Ahsan Iqbal Leads Review of CPEC Phase II, Emphasizes New Development Corridors
ISLAMABAD – Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, on Tuesday, instructed all Working Groups (WGs) to draft concept papers for five newly proposed development corridors as part of CPEC Phase-II. These corridors—focused on growth, livelihood, innovation, green energy, and regional connectivity—were proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping last August.
Chairing a review meeting on CPEC projects, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the urgency of aligning these new projects with Pakistan’s 5Es framework, which encompasses Export, Energy, Equity, E-Pakistan, and Environment as pillars of economic growth. The meeting, attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra and other senior officials, underscored the importance of timely completion of these concept papers to synchronize with the broader objectives of CPEC Phase-II.
Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the significance of the Livelihood Corridor, which aims to enhance public amenities and create job opportunities, and the Innovation Corridor, which will focus on launching new tech-driven initiatives and equipping youth with IT skills. The Regional Connectivity Corridor will leverage CPEC to strengthen ties with Central Asian nations through enhanced cooperation and communication networks.
The minister expressed confidence that comprehensive documentation for these five corridors would be completed by the end of the month, with plans to share them with Chinese leaders shortly. He also directed the concerned ministries to develop five-year strategic plans under the CPEC portfolio for submission to the Joint Cooperation Committee. Stressing the importance of industrial growth, commercial development, and increased foreign investment, he urged the Working Groups to identify and include long-term projects in their sector-specific plans. A 15-day deadline was given to the ministries for submitting their CPEC-related proposals.