Islamabad: Research Fellow at the China International Press Communication Center Muhammad Zamir Assadi has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has significantly changed Pakistan’s economic, geographical and strategic landscape while its second phase can open new opportunities for industrial growth, exports, technology and public prosperity.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, he said the first phase of CPEC focused on developing basic infrastructure, including roads, energy projects and ports, which improved connectivity and created new opportunities for trade and economic activity.
He said CPEC 2.0 should now focus on turning connectivity into industrial cooperation, infrastructure into value chains and energy projects into economic diversification.
Assadi said Special Economic Zones (SEZs) could become major centres of manufacturing and exports, but this would require increased foreign investment, stronger partnerships between Chinese and Pakistani companies, better regulations and a skilled workforce.
He stressed the need to connect Pakistani businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with global supply chains and major industrial companies. Such integration, he added, could create new opportunities for local businesses, innovation and employment.
The Research Fellow identified agriculture as another major area of cooperation under CPEC 2.0. He said modern farming technologies, improved irrigation, cold storage and value addition could increase agricultural productivity and strengthen Pakistan’s export potential.
He added that agricultural development could also generate employment in rural areas, help reduce poverty and ease migration to urban centres.
Assadi said technology should also be a key pillar of CPEC’s second phase, with artificial intelligence, telecommunications, smart logistics, digital payments and e-commerce offering new opportunities for Pakistan’s economy.
He emphasized the importance of stronger cooperation between educational institutions and industry, along with updated curricula and technical and vocational training for young people.
Highlighting the need for sustainable development, he said renewable energy, energy-efficient industrial systems and environmentally friendly construction practices could improve Pakistan’s energy security and environmental sustainability.
Assadi noted that infrastructure provides the foundation for industrial development, but infrastructure alone cannot bring an industrial revolution. Effective planning, investment, strong partnerships and policy continuity are equally important.
He said effective implementation of CPEC 2.0 could help diversify Pakistan’s industrial base, increase exports and create wider economic opportunities for the people.
He stressed that while CPEC has already laid the foundation for infrastructure development, industrial growth, higher exports and public prosperity would be the real measures of success for its next phase.
