ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has said that CPEC Phase-II has formally begun, shifting the focus from infrastructure to technology, economic growth, social development in underdeveloped regions, green energy, and modern agriculture.
Responding to a question about the new phase, Ahsan Iqbal said that CPEC Phase-II started on 26 September, after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with the Chinese leadership earlier in the month. He said both sides finalised the framework during those meetings.
Ahsan Iqbal recalled that CPEC Phase-I, signed in 2015, focused mainly on energy and infrastructure projects. He said Pakistan received $25 billion in investment in three years, which helped build motorways, launch key development projects in Gwadar, and add 8,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. However, he said the next four years were spent on political accusations of corruption, which also targeted CPEC.
He said statements from three PTI ministers triggered concerns in Washington, where the US Assistant Secretary of State held a press conference accusing the Belt and Road Initiative of corruption and expensive loans. “China felt disappointed and distrustful,” he said. “They did not expect Pakistan to tarnish President Xi’s mega initiative through false and baseless claims.”
He added that this negative campaign pushed many Chinese investors to leave Pakistan.
Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan resumed serious dialogue with China after 2022 and restored confidence. “As a result, China has now announced five new corridors under CPEC Phase-II,” he said.
He said the first corridor focuses on economic growth.
The second corridor aims to uplift underdeveloped regions through socio-economic projects.
The third corridor is technology-driven, where Pakistan hopes to benefit from China’s expertise in artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
He said the fourth corridor promotes green energy as China transitions away from fuel-based power plants.
The fifth corridor focuses on open regional development and aims to connect the Pakistan-China framework with the broader region.
He said several new projects are already underway. Their focus is no longer infrastructure but agriculture development, and expanding Pakistan’s mining and minerals potential.
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Ahsan Iqbal added that 1,000 Pakistani agricultural experts recently visited China for advanced training in modern farming technologies. He said these experts will help Pakistan benefit from China’s experience
