Pakistan “does not need to heat its roads; Pakistan needs to heat its economy,” Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a meeting in Islamabad to review the implementation of the CPEC Action Plan 2025–2029, he said Pakistan’s economy needs exports to reach $100 billion by 2035 to survive.
The meeting reviewed progress made during the first year of the CPEC Action Plan and discussed steps to speed up work on the agreed priorities.
The minister said Pakistan-China relations had remained strong during difficult periods and recalled China’s investment during Pakistan’s energy crisis. He said CPEC Phase-I brought around $25 billion in Chinese investment and added nearly 8,000 MW to Pakistan’s electricity generation capacity.
He said CPEC Phase-II would build on the first phase by focusing on business-to-business cooperation, industrial development, agricultural modernization, minerals, human capital and technology.
The minister explained that the priorities of CPEC Phase-II are closely linked with the five pillars of URAAN Pakistan: Growth, Livelihood, Innovation, Green Economy and Openness.
He said the Growth Corridor would strengthen Pakistan’s industrial and agricultural capacity and help increase exports, while the Livelihood Corridor would support social development and less-developed regions.
The Innovation Corridor would focus on expanding Pakistan’s IT capabilities and developing modern technological skills among young people. Iqbal described the country’s young population as its “greatest economic asset.”
The Green Economy Corridor would focus on climate resilience, water and food security and the modernization of agriculture.
Ahsan Iqbal also highlighted the government’s program to send 1,000 agricultural experts to China for training in modern agricultural technologies. He said the initiative would help develop skilled human resources and support a “Green Revolution 2.0” through better seeds, farm mechanization, efficient water use and climate-resilient crops.
The minister said the private sector must take a leading role in realizing the economic potential of CPEC Phase-II, while the government should provide an environment that supports investment and business partnerships.
He called the $100 billion export target by 2035 a “national emergency” and said stronger government-private sector cooperation was needed to improve competitiveness and make “Made in Pakistan” a globally recognized brand.
Planning Minister also directed ministries to ensure timely implementation of the CPEC Phase-II action plan.
“For Pakistan’s future and a better tomorrow for our youth, we cannot compromise on the country’s economic development,” he said.
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