Islamabad: Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, addressed a policy dialogue on strengthening governance and implementation strategies for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0 at the Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad. The event gathered policymakers, diplomats, and experts to discuss CPEC’s future in its second phase, focusing on governance improvements, effective implementation, and project delivery acceleration.
According to Press Information Department, the session began with remarks from President IRS, Jauhar Saleem, who stressed the importance of continuous policy dialogue for CPEC’s next phase. Notable participants included Shi Yuanqiang from the Chinese Embassy and Ambassador Masood Khalid, who highlighted the strategic significance of Pakistan-China relations and CPEC’s role in fostering regional connectivity and economic cooperation.
In his keynote, Minister Sheikh expressed appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the subject and reflected on his experiences with China’s development model. He emphasized the need for Pakistan to learn from China’s focus on human capital and industrial growth. Under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani government prioritizes economic reforms and investment facilitation, with CPEC 2.0 as a central pillar for sustainable development.
The Minister pointed out the importance of shifting towards value-added manufacturing to address the trade imbalance with China. He underscored the transition of CPEC 2.0 to a business-to-business model, focusing on industrialization and private sector participation, with the Board of Investment playing a key role in facilitating this through regulatory reforms.
Special Economic Zones, like the Bin Qasim Industrial Park, are expected to attract foreign investment and generate employment, crucial for CPEC 2.0’s objectives. The Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong relationship with China and the broader regional impact of CPEC beyond bilateral cooperation.
Two reports on CPEC 2.0 governance and implementation strategies were presented during the event, and the Chinese representative emphasized energy and industrial cooperation’s significance. Minister Sheikh concluded by reiterating the Board of Investment’s commitment to advancing investment and industrialization under CPEC 2.0, highlighting the necessity of governance, policy continuity, and institutional coordination.