CPEC Phase 2 Launched: Mineral Corridor to Link Balochistan with Gwadar, Says Ahsan Iqbal

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning Professor Ahsan Iqbal announced the formal launch of **CPEC Phase 2**, which will focus on establishing a **Mineral Corridor** to connect Balochistan’s mineral resources with Gwadar.

Speaking to the media in Beijing, the minister said chairing the 11th out of 14 high-level Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meetings of CPEC was an honor. He confirmed that the 14th JCC had officially initiated **Phase 2 of the CPEC project**.

He emphasized that unlike Phase 1, **CPEC Phase 2 will prioritize Business-to-Business (B2B) cooperation instead of purely Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangements**, ensuring a favorable environment for Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan.

Ahsan Iqbal noted that Beijing’s investment conference marks the beginning of a new journey under the vision of “Uraan Pakistan,” which aims to transform Pakistan into a **$1 trillion economy by 2035**. He highlighted the “Five Es Framework” and five interconnected corridors of CPEC, including:

* **Growth Corridor** – to boost exports and accelerate economic growth.
* **Employment Corridor** – to uplift underdeveloped regions and create jobs.
* **Innovation Corridor** – leveraging China’s expertise in technology and building a Digital Silk Road.
* **Green Energy Corridor** – enhancing cooperation to tackle climate change and promote renewable energy.
* **Infrastructure Corridor** – improving regional connectivity with Central Asia and Afghanistan.

He said President Xi Jinping’s vision of shared prosperity and regional development aligns with Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” initiative. Pakistan has proposed to place **youth development and skill enhancement at the core of CPEC Phase 2**, including a plan to send **10,000 Pakistani students for PhD programs in emerging technologies at 50 leading Chinese universities over the next decade**.

The minister added that equipping Pakistan’s youth with modern skills could help build a **technology-driven economy** and spark an economic revolution within the next two decades.

He further revealed that Pakistan would adopt China’s poverty reduction strategies for sustainable development and prosperity. Additionally, work on the **second phase of the Karakoram Highway** will be accelerated, while discussions are underway to establish a **Mineral Corridor** linking Gwadar with Balochistan’s vast mineral wealth.