CPEC: Pakistan to finalize sectoral action plan based on Chinese experts’ report

Islamabad: In a serious bid to operationalize technical recommendations from China, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal chaired a high-level meeting on Monday afternoon to review and finalize the sectoral action plan derived from the Chinese Experts’ Report. The meeting reflected Pakistan’s renewed commitment to deepening strategic economic collaboration with China under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The comprehensive report, shared by the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, was compiled by specialized Chinese working teams who conducted an extensive assessment visit to Pakistan earlier this year.

These teams examined key sectors of Pakistan’s economy and identified high-potential areas for enhanced cooperation. Their analysis encompassed infrastructure connectivity, the formulation of a national agricultural strategy, technological collaboration in the Information Technology (IT) sector, integration of Gwadar Port with regional supply chains, and other development-critical domains.

The session was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, the Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), the Chief Economist, Project Director of the CPEC Secretariat, and senior officials from various federal ministries and divisions. The focal agenda was to evaluate each ministry’s response to the Chinese recommendations and to shape a unified and actionable roadmap that aligns with both national development objectives and Chinese technical insights.

The report’s significance is underscored by the fact that it serves as a foundation for Pakistan’s strategy to enhance sectoral coordination, with direct input from Chinese policy and development specialists. These experts had outlined not only sector-specific opportunities but also strategic frameworks to drive implementation, a gesture viewed by Islamabad as an invaluable contribution to bilateral development planning.

Following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives, 10 dedicated federal focal groups were constituted to develop targeted action plans anchored in the Chinese assessments. Since then, the Ministry of Planning has convened multiple sessions to guide ministries in aligning their initiatives with the report’s findings and crafting a coherent national response.

During the latest meeting, each ministry presented progress updates, discussed proposals from the Chinese expert teams, and exchanged ideas for optimizing collaboration. Minister Ahsan Iqbal instructed all ministries to prepare comprehensive and ministry-specific responses to the Chinese report, with the goal of enabling the CPEC Secretariat to compile and transmit a consolidated document to the Chinese side.

He emphasized the importance of formally updating China on the progress made by Pakistan and reiterated the government’s determination to capitalize fully on the strategic opportunities highlighted by Chinese experts. “This initiative is not just about implementation — it’s about deepening trust, maximizing potential, and moving forward with synergy,” he stated.

The meeting marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of Pakistan-China economic cooperation, reinforcing a shared vision for sustainable development, regional integration, and long-term strategic alignment through the CPEC framework.