Latest news with #UraanPakistan
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Upcoming JCC session: Pakistan govt finalises CPEC deliverables after progress reviews
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level preparatory meeting of the Pakistani side of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC). The meeting convened key stakeholders, including conveners of CPEC Joint Working Groups (JWGs) and secretaries from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Communications, Maritime Affairs, Science and Technology, Railways, Commerce, and Interior, to review progress and finalise deliverables for the upcoming 14th JCC session. Iqbal conducted a comprehensive review of CPEC project status across vital sectors, including Gwadar development, industrial cooperation, science and technology, transport infrastructure, agriculture, and the blue economy. He mandated all ministries to rigorously operationalise the long-term CPEC plan by ensuring their project roadmaps are fully aligned with established sectoral priorities for effective and result-oriented implementation. JCC under CPEC to meet in June: Agri tech, energy and Gwadar projects discussed The minister instructed the Board of Investment to immediately initiate strategic outreach to 20–25 major Chinese economic zones, aiming to attract experienced companies for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) development and industrial relocation to Pakistan. Emphasising science and technology as the cornerstone of future export-led growth, he directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to study China's advancements in emerging scientific fields, formulate a national scientific development agenda, and identify 10 high-potential export products for targeted research and innovation support. Minister Iqbal underscored Gwadar's critical role as a blue economy hub, demanding accelerated development in coastal tourism, fisheries, and industry through enhanced engagement with Pakistani and Chinese business communities. He also directed officials to finalise a proposal for introducing a third-party participation mechanism under CPEC to facilitate broader infrastructure projects, for presentation and approval at the forthcoming JCC session. Concluding the meeting, Minister Iqbal reiterated CPEC's immense potential for investment, relocation, and joint ventures. He demanded unified, proactive efforts across all government institutions to deliver tangible, actionable outcomes for the JCC. He called for intensified inter-ministerial coordination and strategic planning to ensure the 14th JCC session serves as a landmark event in advancing CPEC 2.0 vision for a prosperous and connected Pakistan. The minister emphasised that CPEC phase-2 is now fully integrated into the broader national transformation vision under the Uraan Pakistan initiative. As a flagship development framework aimed at turning Pakistan into a $3 trillion economy by 2047, Uraan Pakistan provides a clear roadmap through its 5Es: Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy, and Equity. CPEC phase-2's focus on industrialisation, connectivity, science and technology, and sustainable growth directly complements these pillars. The synergies between Uraan Pakistan and CPEC will not only catalyse economic modernisation but also ensure inclusive, innovation-driven development across all regions of Pakistan. Highlighting the need to deepen business-to-business (B2B) collaboration, Minister Iqbal stressed that private sector partnerships between Pakistani and Chinese companies will be pivotal in CPEC's next phase. B2B cooperation will unlock new avenues for industrial growth, technology transfer, and job creation. It will empower local enterprises, attract FDI, boost exports, and drive innovation in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, energy, agriculture, and ICT. A thriving B2B ecosystem under CPEC phase-2 will also foster entrepreneurship, upskill the workforce, and enhance Pakistan's global competitiveness — transforming economic zones into engines of opportunity and prosperity. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
Trilateral agreements signed: NADRA to implement digital tools in healthcare facilities across ICT, GB
ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Friday signed trilateral agreements to implement digital birth and death notification tools in healthcare facilities across Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). According to an official statement issue by the authority, digital tools will enable real-time registration of births and deaths at the point of occurrence. An agreement was signed at the GB Secretariat in Gilgit, linking GB's health facilities with NADRA and local CRMS sites managed by the Local Government and Rural Development Department. Another agreement was signed with the Ministry of National Health Services and the ICT Administration for Islamabad. Similar partnerships have been established in Sindh and Balochistan, as NADRA continues to expand the initiative nationwide. This initiative supports the modernisation of Pakistan's Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system under the National Registration and Biometric Policy Framework and aligns with the government's 'Uraan Pakistan' digital agenda, it says. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Upcoming JCC session: Govt finalises CPEC deliverables after progress reviews
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level preparatory meeting of the Pakistani side of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC). The meeting convened key stakeholders, including conveners of CPEC Joint Working Groups (JWGs) and secretaries from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Communications, Maritime Affairs, Science and Technology, Railways, Commerce, and Interior, to review progress and finalise deliverables for the upcoming 14th JCC session. Iqbal conducted a comprehensive review of CPEC project status across vital sectors, including Gwadar development, industrial cooperation, science and technology, transport infrastructure, agriculture, and the blue economy. He mandated all ministries to rigorously operationalise the long-term CPEC plan by ensuring their project roadmaps are fully aligned with established sectoral priorities for effective and result-oriented implementation. JCC under CPEC to meet in June: Agri tech, energy and Gwadar projects discussed The minister instructed the Board of Investment to immediately initiate strategic outreach to 20–25 major Chinese economic zones, aiming to attract experienced companies for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) development and industrial relocation to Pakistan. Emphasising science and technology as the cornerstone of future export-led growth, he directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to study China's advancements in emerging scientific fields, formulate a national scientific development agenda, and identify 10 high-potential export products for targeted research and innovation support. Minister Iqbal underscored Gwadar's critical role as a blue economy hub, demanding accelerated development in coastal tourism, fisheries, and industry through enhanced engagement with Pakistani and Chinese business communities. He also directed officials to finalise a proposal for introducing a third-party participation mechanism under CPEC to facilitate broader infrastructure projects, for presentation and approval at the forthcoming JCC session. Concluding the meeting, Minister Iqbal reiterated CPEC's immense potential for investment, relocation, and joint ventures. He demanded unified, proactive efforts across all government institutions to deliver tangible, actionable outcomes for the JCC. He called for intensified inter-ministerial coordination and strategic planning to ensure the 14th JCC session serves as a landmark event in advancing CPEC 2.0 vision for a prosperous and connected Pakistan. The minister emphasised that CPEC phase-2 is now fully integrated into the broader national transformation vision under the Uraan Pakistan initiative. As a flagship development framework aimed at turning Pakistan into a $3 trillion economy by 2047, Uraan Pakistan provides a clear roadmap through its 5Es: Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy, and Equity. CPEC phase-2's focus on industrialisation, connectivity, science and technology, and sustainable growth directly complements these pillars. The synergies between Uraan Pakistan and CPEC will not only catalyse economic modernisation but also ensure inclusive, innovation-driven development across all regions of Pakistan. Highlighting the need to deepen business-to-business (B2B) collaboration, Minister Iqbal stressed that private sector partnerships between Pakistani and Chinese companies will be pivotal in CPEC's next phase. B2B cooperation will unlock new avenues for industrial growth, technology transfer, and job creation. It will empower local enterprises, attract FDI, boost exports, and drive innovation in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, energy, agriculture, and ICT. A thriving B2B ecosystem under CPEC phase-2 will also foster entrepreneurship, upskill the workforce, and enhance Pakistan's global competitiveness — transforming economic zones into engines of opportunity and prosperity. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab govt, World Bank agree to boost partnership
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif met Country Director World Bank Najy Benhassine in which it was agreed to further strengthen ever growing partnership between the World Bank and the Punjab government. The CM warmly welcomed the Country Director World Bank Najy Benhassine and paid tribute to his outstanding services rendered in Pakistan since 2020. The Chief Minister said, 'Punjab government holds in high esteem its strong, effective and long-standing partnership with the World Bank. The World Bank is providing valuable assistance to the Punjab government in various social and development sectors including education as well as health. The new $40 billion Country Partnership Framework between Pakistan and the World Bank is a manifestation of the vision of CPF 'Uraan Pakistan'.' She highlighted, '12 projects worth $2.4 billion are underway in Punjab with the support of the World Bank. The Punjab Rural Sustainable Water Supply & Sanitation, Resilient Inclusive, Agriculture Transformation and Human Capital Investment projects are improving service delivery in the province.' She outlined, 'The Punjab Rural Sustainable Water Supply & Sanitation Program is being expanded throughout the province. The Punjab government is making untiring strives to provide clean water and sanitation to all the villages in the province. We are striving to further strengthen the partnership between the World Bank and the Punjab government.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
CAREC states invited to join Pakistan's SEZs
Listen to article Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday invited member states of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (Carec) to integrate their value chains with Pakistan's Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and explore opportunities for cross-border industrial clusters by leveraging Pakistan's preferential trade agreements with China, Asean and the Middle East. He extended the invitation while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the fifth annual Carec Institute Research Conference, held in collaboration with the University of Sargodha. Themed "Carec Connectivity: Promoting Trade and Trade Facilitation," the conference brought together a diverse group of national and international stakeholders. "Today, intra-regional trade among Carec countries (excluding China) accounts for only 7% of total trade. In contrast, Asean bloc member countries have over 22% of total trade among themselves," he said. The Carec region, with a population of nearly two billion and vast reserves of energy, minerals and talent, was not short on potential, Iqbal said and stressed the need for a unified development strategy backed by collective action. Sharing the new development vision called Uraan Pakistan, the minister said it was based on five strategic pillars including exports, equity and empowerment, e-Pakistan, environment, energy and infrastructure. This strategy is not isolated from regional ambitions; rather it is aligned fully with the Carec Vision 2030. He pointed out that Pakistan was expanding high-value exports like IT, halal food and engineering goods. Pakistan's IT exports, for instance, have crossed $3.5 billion and are growing at an annual pace of 20%, empowering youth through digital skills.
