ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has positioned the Digital Silk Road as the cornerstoneof the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) evolution, advocating forexpansive technology partnerships with China that encompass joint venturesin 5G and 6G networks, hardware manufacturing, information andcommunication technology (ICT) components, artificial intelligence (AI),and cloud computing. This strategic pivot was unveiled at the WorldTelecommunication Development Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, whereInformation Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja engaged in high-leveldiscussions with Zhang Yunmeng, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry ofIndustry and Information Technology. The dialogue underscored Islamabad’sintent to harness CPEC’s foundational infrastructure for a digitalrenaissance, signaling a maturation of the flagship Belt and RoadInitiative project beyond its initial physical connectivity mandate.
Launched in 2015, CPEC has channeled billions into energy generation,highway networks, power plants, and the strategic Gwadar port, forging avital conduit from China’s western provinces to the Arabian Sea. Yet, asthese tangible assets stabilize Pakistan’s economy, the corridor’s digitalaugmentation emerges as an imperative for sustainable growth. Byintegrating tech supply chains with China, Pakistan envisions itself notmerely as a transit node but as a burgeoning regional hub for digitalservices and innovation. The proposals articulated in Baku emphasizecollaborative mechanisms to dismantle structural impediments that sidelinedeveloping economies from global technology ecosystems—barriers such asoutdated regulatory frameworks, skill deficits, and capital shortages. Thisapproach aligns with China’s “Intelligent Manufacturing” paradigm, whichpromises to retrofit Pakistani factories with automation and dataanalytics, fostering efficiency gains and export competitiveness.
The breadth of envisioned cooperation extends to cybersecurity protocols,AI-driven industrial upgrades, cloud infrastructure development, andreciprocal talent exchanges, all calibrated to fortify CPEC’s resilienceagainst cyber threats while amplifying cross-border data flows. Suchinitiatives, if realized, could catalyze a multiplier effect on Pakistan’sdigital economy, projected to contribute up to 15 percent of GDP by 2030according to International Telecommunication Union estimates. Analytically,this digital thrust represents a pragmatic recalibration of Pakistan’sforeign policy, embedding technological sovereignty within its enduringalliance with Beijing. It mitigates risks of over-reliance on extractivesectors by diversifying into high-value domains, even as it navigatesgeopolitical sensitivities in South Asia. Critics, however, caution thatwithout robust data localization laws and equitable revenue-sharing models,these ventures might exacerbate digital divides or expose vulnerabilitiesto foreign influence.
Both nations affirmed that the Digital Silk Road could underpin enduringtechnological synergies, enhancing regional interconnectivity and bilateraltrust. As CPEC enters its second decade, this digital chapter holdsprofound implications for Pakistan’s aspirations in the global tech arena,potentially redefining its role from peripheral participant to pivotalinnovator in the Indo-Pacific digital landscape.
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Source:www.dawn.com/news/1771234/pakistan-china-digital-silk-road-cpec”>https://www.dawn.com/news/1771234/pakistan-china-digital-silk-road-cpec
Source:www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-pushes-digital-upgrades-under-cpec-2025-11-18/”>https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-pushes-digital-upgrades-under-cpec-2025-11-18/