Islamabad: October 7, 2026: Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal chaired the 93rd CPEC Progress Review Meeting, bringing together federal and provincial officials and private sector representatives to review progress on priority initiatives under CPEC 2.0.
The meeting focused on key areas of Pakistan-China cooperation:
- STEM Education: Expanding Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education from 42 to 58 districts to strengthen scientific learning and future-ready skills.
- Agricultural Modernisation: Leveraging advanced Chinese technologies to enhance mango, tea and apple production, improve agricultural productivity and generate direct benefits for Pakistani farmers.
- Research & Innovation: Strengthening cooperation through joint research laboratories in applied sciences, disaster management and artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on knowledge exchange and technology transfer.
- Youth Development: Expanding scholarships, academic exchanges and educational opportunities at Chinese universities to equip Pakistani youth with advanced knowledge and skills.
- Subnational Cooperation: The Minister directed provincial governments to establish institutional mechanisms for strengthening sister-city and sister-province partnerships between Pakistan and China, promoting economic collaboration, investment, knowledge exchange and people-to-people connectivity.
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal directed the relevant ministries to strengthen inter-agency coordination, regularly review progress and accelerate implementation of agreed initiatives, emphasising the importance of translating bilateral commitments into tangible socioeconomic benefits.
CPEC 2.0 continues to deepen Pakistan-China cooperation through education, innovation, agricultural transformation, human resource development and stronger institutional partnerships.
