CPEC Phase 2 Aligned with URAAN Agenda to Drive Economic Transformation

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level review meeting on Friday to finalize Pakistan’s preparations for the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) session under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Held in Islamabad, the meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Science & Technology, Maritime Affairs, Railways, Interior, and Communications, along with conveners of various CPEC Joint Working Groups (JWGs). Participants reviewed the progress of ongoing projects and identified key deliverables for the next phase of CPEC.

Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that CPEC Phase 2 is now a core component of the URAAN Pakistan framework—an ambitious national agenda designed to transform Pakistan into a $3 trillion economy by 2047. He stressed that the five pillars of URAAN—Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy, and Equity—are in direct alignment with CPEC’s focus areas, including industrialization, connectivity, science & technology, and sustainable growth.

The minister urged all ministries to ensure their CPEC initiatives align with sectoral priorities and deliver measurable results. He directed the Board of Investment to reach out to 20–25 leading Chinese industrial parks to attract experienced firms for relocation to Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

For innovation-led export growth, he asked the Ministry of Science & Technology to study China’s advancements in emerging technologies and devise a national innovation strategy—particularly focused on identifying 10 high-potential export products for dedicated research and development.

Recognizing Gwadar’s significance in the blue economy, Iqbal called for accelerated development in fisheries, coastal tourism, and marine industries. He emphasized enhancing public-private cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese stakeholders to realize Gwadar’s full potential as a regional trade and economic hub.

To expand CPEC’s reach, the minister also instructed the preparation of a formal proposal to introduce third-party participation in CPEC infrastructure and development projects, to be presented at the 14th JCC.

Reiterating the role of the private sector, he stressed that strategic partnerships between Pakistani and Chinese businesses will be vital for technology transfer, job creation, and industrial growth across multiple sectors including logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and ICT.

In his closing remarks, Ahsan Iqbal called for unified, results-oriented efforts across government departments to ensure substantial outcomes from the upcoming JCC session. He described CPEC 2.0 as central to Pakistan’s economic transformation and a key catalyst for regional cooperation and prosperity.