Key Takeaways
- Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative.
- Pakistan is emerging as a vital bridge between West, Central and East Asia, with enhanced rail and road links.
- The minister highlighted opportunities in industrialisation, agriculture, mining, energy, technology and tourism.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and invited BRI partners to benefit from emerging opportunities under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase II.
Addressing the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, the minister highlighted the transformative impact of CPEC on Pakistan’s economic landscape, noting its role in infrastructure, energy, and industrialisation.
CPEC is positioning Pakistan as a major connectivity hub, linking landlocked Central Asia and Western China with warm-water ports and international markets, according to the minister.
Pakistan is emerging as a vital bridge between West, Central and East Asia, with expanding rail and road links and transit-trade arrangements with neighbouring Central Asian states, he said.
These connections provide access to a vast regional market of approximately 1.5 billion people, and port reforms, digital customs systems, and modern logistics are reducing costs and transit times, strengthening Pakistan’s potential as an emerging transhipment hub.
The minister stressed the importance of incorporating digital innovation, sustainability, and skilled employment into regional trade architecture to ensure inclusive and people-centred prosperity.
Highlighting Pakistan’s improving economic outlook, Jam Kamal Khan said greater macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline, and improved credit ratings had strengthened investor confidence.
Renewed investment in energy, infrastructure, mining, and industry reflected growing international trust in Pakistan’s economic potential, he added.
Pakistan’s economic strategy is centred on export-led growth, industrial modernisation, investment facilitation, and regulatory reforms, with an emphasis on value addition and deeper integration into global value chains.
The minister highlighted Pakistan’s considerable agricultural potential, saying climate-smart practices, modern seed technologies, and improved supply chains could strengthen food security and increase export earnings.
He invited international investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s mineral sector, including copper, coal, and other industrial and critical minerals, under transparent and investor-friendly frameworks.
Referring to Pakistan’s young and growing population, the minister described it as one of the world’s largest reservoirs of human capital, with annual remittances of around $40 billion reflecting the skills, resilience, and global credibility of Pakistan’s overseas workforce.
The minister invited BRI partners to benefit from emerging opportunities under CPEC Phase II, particularly in industrialisation, agriculture, mining, energy, technology, and export-oriented production.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s potential for religious, cultural, and nature-based tourism, offering diverse opportunities for tourists and investors in the hospitality industry.
Addressing contemporary global challenges, the minister identified artificial intelligence, cybersecurity risks, and climate-induced food insecurity as major concerns, emphasizing Pakistan’s modernisation of digital infrastructure and promotion of climate-smart agriculture, green industries, and renewable energy.
