Minister Ahsan Iqbal Urges Swift CPEC Progress

Pakistan is gearing up for the 13th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting to mark the beginning of phase-II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The meeting is expected to take place in June or July this year in Pakistan, with dates likely to be finalized during Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's upcoming visit to Beijing.

During a recent review meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Joint Working Groups (CPEC-JWGs) and the 13th JCC, Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the importance of fast-tracking the implementation of memorandums of understanding and other agreements related to projects like Main Line-1 (ML-1), Karakoram Highway Phase-2, Karachi Circular Railway, and Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit China to bolster economic ties between the two countries. Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed the need for regular meetings of the JWGs and active participation in the decision-making process to ensure smooth progress on CPEC projects. He also instructed the relevant ministries to prepare a comprehensive agenda for the 13th JCC meeting.

A presentation on the overall progress of CPEC phase-II and the upcoming JCC meeting will be delivered to the Prime Minister before his trip to Beijing. The meeting also assessed the progress on recommendations from the 12th JCC and JWGs held in July 2023 in Beijing, with Pakistan confirmed to host the 13th JCC meeting.