Expanding Horizons: Pakistan and China Forge a New CPEC Vision
Pakistan and China are set to expand the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, shifting its focus from infrastructure to boosting Pakistan's industrial capacity. This significant development emerged during a meeting held in Islamabad on Monday between Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, and Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong.
The discussions centered on enhancing collaboration in energy and electricity initiatives. Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that achieving energy self-sufficiency would pave the way for economic stability in Pakistan.
Minister Iqbal also lauded China's invaluable role in the success of Special Economic Zones, underscoring that CPEC's core mission is to foster industrial growth within Pakistan. Highlighting the interconnectedness of Balochistan's prosperity with Gwadar's development, he revealed that the construction of electricity transmission lines in Gwadar has been expedited under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's directives.
Furthermore, Minister Iqbal disclosed that Gwadar's electricity supply from Iran is scheduled to commence by December 2022, followed by integration with the national grid by March 2023. This progress underscores the commitment of both nations to CPEC's transformative potential.