International Seminar on CPEC’s Second Phase to Be Held in Peshawar
PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, will host an international seminar on the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from April 15 to 17.
The event, organised by China Window in collaboration with IM Sciences and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), will focus on promoting regional peace, enhancing ties, and raising public awareness about the ongoing and upcoming developments under CPEC.
Naz Parveen, Director of China Window, highlighted the critical importance of CPEC’s second phase for Pakistan’s economic growth and long-term prosperity. She stressed that such seminars play a crucial role in shaping a positive image of Pakistan globally.
The three-day seminar will bring together a wide range of speakers and policymakers. The first day will feature key personalities providing insights into CPEC’s progress, while the second day will see provincial officials, experts, and stakeholders discussing strategies to overcome challenges from the past decade.
They will also propose innovative solutions to ensure the success of the next phase of the project.
CPEC, a cornerstone of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has long been seen as a symbol of deepening ties between China and Pakistan. CPEC’s Phase 2.0. will redefine bilateral relations, with a focus on deeper collaboration, technological transfer, and socio-economic transformation.
China’s commitment to CPEC remains unwavering, with the next phase expected to bring significant advancements through five key thematic corridors: Growth Corridor, Livelihood-Enhancing Corridor, Innovation Corridor, Green Corridor, and Opening-Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor.
The first phase of CPEC, which concluded with the completion of 43 projects worth around USD 25 billion, included major infrastructure and energy projects.
Notably, 17 power projects added 8,800 MW to Pakistan’s national grid, and several transport projects, including 888 km of motorways and highways, were completed.
The Havelian-Thakot section of the Karakoram Highway received international recognition for its engineering excellence.
This phase also generated approximately 200,000 direct jobs, with further indirect employment expected from ongoing and future projects.
The second phase of CPEC will focus on business-to-business cooperation in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, mines and minerals, Gwadar Port, and the free zone.