Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal has urged Chinese investors from Xinjiang to establish manufacturing facilities in Pakistan, positioning the country as a regional export hub under the second phase of CPEC, which prioritizes industrial growth, private sector participation, and export-led economic expansion.
ISLAMABAD, October 14: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday called upon Chinese investors to set up manufacturing facilities in Pakistan and utilize the country as a regional production and export hub.
Speaking during a meeting with a visiting business delegation from Xinjiang, China—led by Yuan Jianmin, Senior Advisor to the Xinjiang Government—the minister emphasized that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor focuses heavily on industrial development, export growth, and enhanced private-sector investment, according to an official news release.
Highlighting the historic bilateral partnership, Ahsan Iqbal noted that Xinjiang holds a unique and special place in Pakistan-China relations. He pointed out that the shared border, enduring people-to-people contacts, and the Karakoram Highway continue to serve as vital symbols of friendship and regional connectivity. Furthermore, he stressed the absolute necessity of removing existing barriers to trade and strengthening robust business-to-business linkages to ensure that CPEC 2.0 surpasses the achievements of its initial phase.
Recalling the milestones accomplished during the corridor’s inception, the minister stated that an agreement signed in July 2013 rapidly translated into more than $25 billion in direct investment within a five-year span. He added that substantial Chinese investment in power generation successfully added approximately 8,000 megawatts to Pakistan’s national grid, helping the country overcome severe energy deficits and supporting its broader economic transformation.
CPEC 2.0 Priorities and Regional Export Hub Ambitions- Ahsan Iqbal
Outlining the strategic roadmap for CPEC 2.0, Ahsan Iqbal explained that the second phase will prioritize industrial cooperation, greater participation from Pakistan’s domestic private sector, mining, minerals, information technology, advanced technologies, and expanded educational exchanges.
Emphasizing the core philosophy of export-led growth, the minister stated that generating an additional $7 billion in exports over the next three years would significantly strengthen Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability, generate employment opportunities, and reduce the country’s reliance on external financial assistance. He urged Chinese enterprises to invest directly in export-oriented manufacturing, arguing that deeper industrial collaboration would enable Pakistan to transition toward higher-value production, broaden its export base, and serve both regional and international markets effectively.
In response, delegation leader Yuan Jianmin praised Ahsan Iqbal’s longstanding contributions to bilateral economic cooperation, describing him as a key figure in advancing the flagship connectivity project. Recalling their initial meeting in May 2013, Yuan acknowledged the minister’s consistent support for bilateral collaboration and highlighted multiple opportunities to expand cross-border trade through the Khunjerab Pass. He proposed the establishment of a dedicated China-Pakistan border trade market to increase Pakistani exports to China.
Yuan also identified lucrative investment prospects for Chinese companies across manufacturing, new energy, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology sectors. Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their shared commitment to transforming long-standing political goodwill into concrete commercial partnerships and mutually beneficial investments.
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