Islamabad: The caretaker Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives in Pakistan, Muhammad Sami Saeed, has urged all ministries and divisions to accelerate work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The minister highlighted this during a meeting to review the progress of the CPEC projects. Chief Economist of Pakistan and representatives from various ministries and divisions attended the meeting.
The minister was briefed on the progress of the CPEC projects, particularly after the 12th Joint Cooperation Committee meeting held in July 2023. A detailed update on the implementation status of projects in sectors like energy, infrastructure, information technology, Gwadar International Airport, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) was presented. Six mega infrastructure projects, known as early harvest projects, have already been completed, and work on different sections of the western alignment of the CPEC is currently underway. These projects aim to bring prosperity to the far-flung areas of Pakistan.
The minister directed the relevant ministry to expedite work on SEZs and emphasized the importance of upcoming Belt & Road Forum in China. The CPEC is celebrating a decade of achievements, fostering economic growth, infrastructure development, and regional connectivity. Both Pakistan and China are celebrating 10 years of Belt & Road Initiatives and CPEC. The Chinese Vice Premier recently visited Pakistan to mark this milestone.