China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It marked a new phase in Pakistan-China relations by placing economic cooperation, trade, investment and connectivity at the center of bilateral agenda.
CPEC was formally launched by the two countries on July 5, 2013 in Beijing during the visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister to China. The first set of CPEC projects were inaugurated during the landmark visit of Chinese President H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping to Pakistan in April 2015.
CPEC aims at building and expanding greater connectivity and trade linkages between Pakistan and China through a network of roads, railway, fiber optic, energy infrastructure projects, industrial clusters and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). CPEC connects Kashgar region in China with Gwadar region in Pakistan, the Arbian Sea and the Gulf region.
Under the CPEC’s Long Term-Plan (2017-2030), both sides have agreed to further develop and expand Gwadar Port , building and up-grading transport infrastructure, and energy, investment and trade cooperation with China. Projects in these sectors include government to government cooperation, private sector collaboration and equity investment by Chinese companies.
In its first phase, CPEC has yielded impressive results especially in the development and up-gradation of transport and communication infrastructure as well as addressing acute energy needs. Around 50 projects were completed in the first phase of CPEC worth over $25 billion investment in Pakistan. A network of over 500 KMs of highways and motorways has provided more reliable Pakistan-China connectivity across the Karakoram Mountains and smoother inland communications.
The key energy projects that have been completed so far include: 2x660 MW Port Qasim power plant; 2x660 MW Sahiwal power plant; 2x660 MW hub power plant; 2x330 MW Engro Thar power plants; 50 MW Hydro China Dawood Wind Farm Thatta; 884 MW Suki Kinari hydro power plant, 720 MW Karot hydro power plant; and 400 MW of total 1,000 MW capacity Quaid e Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur. In total 15 projects of over 8800 MW have been completed, along with an HVDC Lahore-Matiari Transmission Line of 880 km. This constitutes one-fifth of the country’s total installed power capacity.
Similarly, in infrastructure projects, KKH Phase II (Havelian - Thakot Section), Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (Multan - Sukkur Section), Hakla - D.I. Khan Motorway, Eastbay Expressway and Orange Line Metro Train-Lahore have been completed in the first phase. Substantial progress has been achieved to kick start construction of the remaining section of the KKH realignment project (Thakot-Raikot).
Pakistan and China have launched CPEC Phase II which prioritizes industrialization cooperation, ICT, clean energy, mines and minerals development and agriculture. Private sector enterprises and B2B joint ventures are at the forefront of the new phase.
For effective coordination and implementation of CPEC projects, the two countries have established a Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) which is co-chaired by Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MPD&SI) on Pakistan side and National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Chinese side. Meetings of JCC are held at regular intervals to take stock of CPEC projects and endorse the workings of its subordinate Joint Working Groups (JWG). Fourteen JCC meetings have been held till September 2026.
There are eleven CPEC Joint Working Groups (JWGs) on (i) Planning, (ii) Energy, (iii) Transport Infrastructure, (iv) Gwadar, (v) Industrial Cooperation, (vi) Security, (vii) Socioeconomic Development, (viii) International Cooperation and Coordination, (ix) Agriculture Cooperation, (x) Science and Technology and (xi) Information Technology Industry. Meetings of the JWGs are held regularly between the designated focal ministries / departments from both sides.
CPEC remains a powerful symbol of Pakistan-China economic cooperation rooted in the principles of win-win, mutual trust and support, and a shared vision of development for the two countries and their adjoining regions. With its renewed focus on high-quality development, innovation, and people-centered growth, CPEC continues to be a transformative platform for shared prosperity and sustainable development.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It marked a new phase in Pakistan-China relations by placing economic cooperation, trade, investment and connectivity at the center of bilateral agenda.
CPEC was formally launched by the two countries on July 5, 2013 in Beijing during the visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister to China. The first set of CPEC projects were inaugurated during the landmark visit of Chinese President H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping to Pakistan in April 2015.
CPEC aims at building and expanding greater connectivity and trade linkages between Pakistan and China through a network of roads, railway, fiber optic, energy infrastructure projects, industrial clusters and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). CPEC connects Kashgar region in China with Gwadar region in Pakistan, the Arbian Sea and the Gulf region.
Under the CPEC’s Long Term-Plan (2017-2030), both sides have agreed to further develop and expand Gwadar Port , building and up-grading transport infrastructure, and energy, investment and trade cooperation with China. Projects in these sectors include government to government cooperation, private sector collaboration and equity investment by Chinese companies.
In its first phase, CPEC has yielded impressive results especially in the development and up-gradation of transport and communication infrastructure as well as addressing acute energy needs. Around 50 projects were completed in the first phase of CPEC worth over $25 billion investment in Pakistan. A network of over 500 KMs of highways and motorways has provided more reliable Pakistan-China connectivity across the Karakoram Mountains and smoother inland communications.
The key energy projects that have been completed so far include: 2x660 MW Port Qasim power plant; 2x660 MW Sahiwal power plant; 2x660 MW hub power plant; 2x330 MW Engro Thar power plants; 50 MW Hydro China Dawood Wind Farm Thatta; 884 MW Suki Kinari hydro power plant, 720 MW Karot hydro power plant; and 400 MW of total 1,000 MW capacity Quaid e Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur. In total 15 projects of over 8800 MW have been completed, along with an HVDC Lahore-Matiari Transmission Line of 880 km. This constitutes one-fifth of the country’s total installed power capacity.
Similarly, in infrastructure projects, KKH Phase II (Havelian - Thakot Section), Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (Multan - Sukkur Section), Hakla - D.I. Khan Motorway, Eastbay Expressway and Orange Line Metro Train-Lahore have been completed in the first phase. Substantial progress has been achieved to kick start construction of the remaining section of the KKH realignment project (Thakot-Raikot).
Pakistan and China have launched CPEC Phase II which prioritizes industrialization cooperation, ICT, clean energy, mines and minerals development and agriculture. Private sector enterprises and B2B joint ventures are at the forefront of the new phase.
For effective coordination and implementation of CPEC projects, the two countries have established a Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) which is co-chaired by Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MPD&SI) on Pakistan side and National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Chinese side. Meetings of JCC are held at regular intervals to take stock of CPEC projects and endorse the workings of its subordinate Joint Working Groups (JWG). Fourteen JCC meetings have been held till September 2026.
There are eleven CPEC Joint Working Groups (JWGs) on (i) Planning, (ii) Energy, (iii) Transport Infrastructure, (iv) Gwadar, (v) Industrial Cooperation, (vi) Security, (vii) Socioeconomic Development, (viii) International Cooperation and Coordination, (ix) Agriculture Cooperation, (x) Science and Technology and (xi) Information Technology Industry. Meetings of the JWGs are held regularly between the designated focal ministries / departments from both sides.
CPEC remains a powerful symbol of Pakistan-China economic cooperation rooted in the principles of win-win, mutual trust and support, and a shared vision of development for the two countries and their adjoining regions. With its renewed focus on high-quality development, innovation, and people-centered growth, CPEC continues to be a transformative platform for shared prosperity and sustainable development.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It marked a new phase in Pakistan-China relations by placing economic cooperation, trade, investment and connectivity at the center of bilateral agenda.
CPEC was formally launched by the two countries on July 5, 2013 in Beijing during the visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister to China. The first set of CPEC projects were inaugurated during the landmark visit of Chinese President H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping to Pakistan in April 2015.
CPEC aims at building and expanding greater connectivity and trade linkages between Pakistan and China through a network of roads, railway, fiber optic, energy infrastructure projects, industrial clusters and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). CPEC connects Kashgar region in China with Gwadar region in Pakistan, the Arbian Sea and the Gulf region.
Under the CPEC’s Long Term-Plan (2017-2030), both sides have agreed to further develop and expand Gwadar Port , building and up-grading transport infrastructure, and energy, investment and trade cooperation with China. Projects in these sectors include government to government cooperation, private sector collaboration and equity investment by Chinese companies.
In its first phase, CPEC has yielded impressive results especially in the development and up-gradation of transport and communication infrastructure as well as addressing acute energy needs. Around 50 projects were completed in the first phase of CPEC worth over $25 billion investment in Pakistan. A network of over 500 KMs of highways and motorways has provided more reliable Pakistan-China connectivity across the Karakoram Mountains and smoother inland communications.
The key energy projects that have been completed so far include: 2x660 MW Port Qasim power plant; 2x660 MW Sahiwal power plant; 2x660 MW hub power plant; 2x330 MW Engro Thar power plants; 50 MW Hydro China Dawood Wind Farm Thatta; 884 MW Suki Kinari hydro power plant, 720 MW Karot hydro power plant; and 400 MW of total 1,000 MW capacity Quaid e Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur. In total 15 projects of over 8800 MW have been completed, along with an HVDC Lahore-Matiari Transmission Line of 880 km. This constitutes one-fifth of the country’s total installed power capacity.
Similarly, in infrastructure projects, KKH Phase II (Havelian - Thakot Section), Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (Multan - Sukkur Section), Hakla - D.I. Khan Motorway, Eastbay Expressway and Orange Line Metro Train-Lahore have been completed in the first phase. Substantial progress has been achieved to kick start construction of the remaining section of the KKH realignment project (Thakot-Raikot).
Pakistan and China have launched CPEC Phase II which prioritizes industrialization cooperation, ICT, clean energy, mines and minerals development and agriculture. Private sector enterprises and B2B joint ventures are at the forefront of the new phase.
For effective coordination and implementation of CPEC projects, the two countries have established a Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) which is co-chaired by Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MPD&SI) on Pakistan side and National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Chinese side. Meetings of JCC are held at regular intervals to take stock of CPEC projects and endorse the workings of its subordinate Joint Working Groups (JWG). Fourteen JCC meetings have been held till September 2026.
There are eleven CPEC Joint Working Groups (JWGs) on (i) Planning, (ii) Energy, (iii) Transport Infrastructure, (iv) Gwadar, (v) Industrial Cooperation, (vi) Security, (vii) Socioeconomic Development, (viii) International Cooperation and Coordination, (ix) Agriculture Cooperation, (x) Science and Technology and (xi) Information Technology Industry. Meetings of the JWGs are held regularly between the designated focal ministries / departments from both sides.
CPEC remains a powerful symbol of Pakistan-China economic cooperation rooted in the principles of win-win, mutual trust and support, and a shared vision of development for the two countries and their adjoining regions. With its renewed focus on high-quality development, innovation, and people-centered growth, CPEC continues to be a transformative platform for shared prosperity and sustainable development.
