Islamabad: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has instructed various ministries to accelerate the implementation of five key corridors of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0. These corridors focus on Growth, Livelihood, Innovation, Green Development, and Regional Connectivity.

According to Radio Pakistan, the directives were issued during the 91st CPEC Review Meeting chaired by Ahsan Iqbal in the capital. The Minister highlighted the significant opportunities presented by CPEC 2.0, which aims to build on the achievements of the first phase by leveraging investments in energy and infrastructure development.

The meeting included updates from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Government of Sindh on the Karachi Coastal Comprehensive Development Zone (KCCDZ) project. Ahsan Iqbal expressed concerns over delays in implementation and instructed stakeholders to submit their observations within a week to resolve any outstanding issues promptly.

Additionally, the review covered the progress of a training initiative for 1,000 agriculture graduates in China. The Minister emphasized the importance of utilizing the expertise gained by these graduates to enhance Pakistan’s agricultural sector. He called for alignment of training with national priorities, emphasizing biotechnology, seed development, high-yield crop varieties, digital extension services, AI-driven agriculture, and cooperative farm management. Officials were tasked with developing a five-year roadmap for human resource and sectoral development to ensure future training programs meet the country’s agricultural needs.