The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not just a bilateral project benefiting Pakistan and China, but has far-reaching positive impacts on the entire region, Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Awais Manzur Sumra said on Wednesday.
Addressing a one-day conference titled “CPEC: Enhancing Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” here, Sumra said that by promoting regional connectivity and trans-border trade, Pakistan and China are building a future where prosperity is shared, and development is inclusive.
He said that since the inception of CPEC in 2013, Pakistan witnessed remarkable milestones that have transformed the economic landscape of the South Asian country.
“CPEC phase-I focused primarily on addressing the immediate needs of our nation by incorporating energy into the national grid, constructing vital infrastructure projects including motorways and highways, and developing and operationalizing the strategic Gwadar port,” he said.
Talking about the CPEC Phase-II, Sumra said that it aims for high-quality development, bringing advanced manufacturing technologies and job opportunities to Pakistan with a special focus on agricultural modernization to enhance food security and improve farmers’ livelihoods.