Govt receives overwhelming response over 10-year celebrations of CPEC project

Islamabad: The government on Sunday received an overwhelming response over ten year celebrations of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor across the country particularly after the two-day international conference held in the capital last week.

The two-day International conference, Decade of CPEC and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), theme "From Vision to Reality was organized by the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy.

The key objective of the conference was to bring together policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and insights related to economic, social, environmental and geopolitical impacts of CPEC and BRI. Hundreds of participants from across the world particularly from China took part highlighting the achievements of the 10-year celebration of CPEC.

The conference revolved around the socio-economic impact of CPEC, opportunities for industry relocation, regional connectivity, technology transfer, cooperation for security, geopolitical implications, and maximizing synergies in CPEC and BRI initiatives, and people-to-people connectivity.

Over the decade, the two countries have developed strong bonds in diverse fields and call themselves "Iron Brothers'. CPEC effectively helped Pakistan in improving its energy security as well as transport networks from north to south and laid the foundation for a resilient infrastructure including ports, airports, roads, and railway.                                                                                                                                                     The platform provided an opportunity to review CPEC's achievements in fostering economic growth and cooperation between China and Pakistan over the past decade. A high-level delegation from China has arrived in Pakistan on his two-day official visit which is part of the CPEC's celebrations.

It is noted that since the government came into power in April 2022, the CPEC projects have been revived which remained shelved by the previous government. Prime Minister Shahbaz already reiterated his full commitment to complete the CPEC projects and in this regard the premier visited China when he took charge as the Prime Minister.

Under the conference different technical sessions were held which include Socio-Economic impacts of CPEC, Prospects of Regional Connectivity Through Gwadar Port, Opportunities for Industrial Relocation and Export s; Green Technologies and Development; Security and Geopolitical Implications; Innovation, Technology and Global Value Chains; Challenges to Regional Connectivity and Integration, Artificial Intelligence and Labour Market Dynamics.

The Planning Ministry appreciated co-sponsors which include Chinese Embassy Islamabad and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, along with recognition for the scientific and organizing committees' efforts for this conference.