ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, has reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to fully utilizing the potential of Gwadar Port, highlighting that the development of the port city and the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) remain among the federal government’s top priorities.
He expressed these views during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, on Sunday. Both sides reviewed the progress of ongoing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), where significant decisions are expected to further enhance bilateral cooperation.
Minister Iqbal stated that with the successful completion of CPEC’s first phase, the second phase now focuses on industrial cooperation, agriculture, information technology, and social development.
He also stressed the importance of linking CPEC with Central Asian states to foster regional economic integration and stability. Highlighting the vast potential for mineral exploration around Gwadar, he noted that the area’s resources could be fully harnessed with the development of modern infrastructure.
The minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the security of CPEC projects and underlined the importance of continued cooperation with China in the agricultural sector. He mentioned that Pakistani agriculture graduates trained in China would play a vital role in tackling the impacts of climate change.
Read Top Stories
Mr. Iqbal further discussed plans for the establishment of the Pakistan Space Centre, noting that China will play a key role in the timely execution of this strategically significant project.
Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s unwavering support for Pakistan’s development efforts and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation will continue to grow in the coming years.
The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, along with senior officials from both countries.