Renowned columnist and author Zahid Hussain stressed the importance of meeting Chinese economic expectations regarding the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with a consistent policy response. Speaking at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Hussain highlighted the need to upgrade the Pakistani workforce’s skills to achieve high-quality development in CPEC’s second phase.
Hussain acknowledged the slow pace of Phase-I but credited infrastructure projects with spurring Pakistan’s economic growth. He emphasized the need to address Phase-I’s shortcomings to fully leverage Phase-II’s potential. The recent signing of 27 new projects in Special Industrial Zones, agriculture, tourism, and other areas is poised to significantly enhance China-Pakistan commercial ties, leading to a new era of regional cooperation.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, stressed the importance of timely completing CPEC projects to enhance the strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China. He emphasized the need for a fresh approach to capitalize on China’s growing economy and appreciated China’s supportive role during challenging times.
The discussion highlighted the importance of effective policy responses to meet Chinese economic expectations and fully leverage CPEC’s potential for regional growth and cooperation.
