Beijing: Ambassador Khalil Hashmi represented Pakistan at the 9th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, focusing on strengthening global partnerships and sustainable development. The summit emphasized leveraging Hong Kong’s strategic position to advance the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Ambassador discussed the transformative effects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Pakistan’s infrastructure and energy sectors and outlined future growth avenues in digital and green technologies.
According to Press Information Department, Ambassador Hashmi detailed the significant impacts of CPEC on Pakistan’s economic landscape, noting the addition of 8,000 MW to the national power grid and the development of 800 km of road networks and transmission lines. He explained that the next phase of CPEC would expand into a multidimensional corridor promoting growth, innovation, and inclusiveness, in line with Pakistan’s “5Es” strategy focused on exports, energy, digital transformation, climate change, and equity.
The Ambassador emphasized the rapid expansion of Pakistan’s IT sector and the nascent fintech sector’s potential, pointing to substantial opportunities for Hong Kong-based firms to introduce innovative financial solutions such as digital banking platforms and blockchain technologies. He also highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to increasing its renewable energy sources to 30% by 2030, inviting collaboration from Hong Kong’s financial institutions in green energy projects. The Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under CPEC were noted as attractive investment opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises in manufacturing and logistics.