China and Pakistan engaged in discussions on Thursday regarding the advancement of major infrastructure and economic projects under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The meeting, held in Islamabad between Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong and Pakistani Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, also included talks on enhancing security for Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.
CPEC, an essential part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aims to connect China to the Arabian Sea through a comprehensive network of roads, railways, pipelines, and ports across Pakistan. The initiative is intended to help modernize Pakistan’s economy and foster economic growth.
According to Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID), the two leaders discussed key CPEC projects, particularly the Karachi-Hyderabad section of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway and the Thakot-Raikot section of the Karakoram Highway. Both sides agreed on the importance of timely execution of these projects and emphasized the need for effective coordination to ensure smooth progress.
The Gwadar Port and Free Zone were also on the agenda, with both countries expressing a commitment to continuing Gwadar’s development holistically. With China’s investment in Pakistan surpassing $65 billion, the two countries highlighted the importance of furthering CPEC’s vision to create long-term economic benefits.
This meeting took place just days after a security incident in Karachi, where two Chinese nationals were injured in a shooting. Recently, Chinese citizens have faced multiple security challenges in Pakistan, prompting Beijing to voice concerns about the safety of its workers. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal assured Ambassador Jiang that Pakistan remains committed to safeguarding Chinese citizens and ensuring security across CPEC projects.
Ambassador Jiang expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts and reaffirmed China’s willingness to support Pakistan in areas such as agriculture, mining, and industrial cooperation. Iqbal shared plans to collaborate with China’s National Development and Reform Commission on organizing high-level workshops to outline the direction for the next phase of CPEC.
China has indicated strong support for CPEC’s second phase, which includes the development of five new corridors focused on growth, livelihood, innovation, green economy, and inclusive regional development.
