Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Sunday to finalize sector-specific action plans based on a comprehensive report by Chinese experts, aimed at boosting economic cooperation between Pakistan and China.

The report, compiled after a visit by Chinese delegations, outlines recommendations to enhance collaboration in connectivity, the national agricultural plan, Gwadar Port projects, IT cooperation, and other key sectors under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The meeting, attended by Secretary Planning Owais Manzoor Samra, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), the Chief Economist, the Director of the CPEC Secretariat, and senior officials from relevant ministries, focused on reviewing the Chinese experts’ proposals. Following directives from Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the Ministry of Planning established 10 federal focal groups to develop targeted action plans aligned with the Chinese recommendations.

Minister Iqbal instructed all ministries to thoroughly review the report and submit detailed feedback to ensure a coordinated response to China through the CPEC Secretariat. He emphasized the importance of regularly updating China on Pakistan’s progress and accelerating efforts in areas where China has signaled readiness for cooperation, such as agricultural modernization and infrastructure development. Iqbal highlighted the potential of projects like the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway and Gwadar Port’s connectivity to drive regional integration and economic growth.

The minister underscored the need for Pakistan to leverage China’s expertise in advanced farming techniques, IT innovation, and industrial development to address challenges like low agricultural productivity and limited foreign direct investment. He also called for swift operationalization of Gwadar’s desalination plant and enhanced IT student exchanges with China to bolster emerging technologies.