CPEC 2.0 a highway to shared prosperity

When the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was launched in 2013 as the flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative, it was little more than a bold vision on paper. Pakistan was facing crippling energy shortages, inadequate infrastructure and stagnant growth. Few could imagine how profoundly the CPEC would transform the country's economic landscape within just a decade. Yet today, that vision has become a living reality, reshaping Pakistan's connectivity, energy security and development outlook while deepening our strategic partnership with China.

The first phase of the CPEC has delivered what once seemed unimaginable. In energy, 17 major projects with a combined capacity of 8,904 megawatts were completed, supported by two coal mines and the country's first 660 kV HVDC transmission line, representing nearly $18 billion of investment. These projects helped end the crippling power shortages that had darkened homes and stifled industries. The long-overlooked coal reserves of Thar are now producing electricity, powering factories and households, and providing Pakistan with much-needed energy security. For millions of citizens, the CPEC today means light in their homes, jobs in their communities, and renewed hope in their future.

Beyond energy, the CPEC's transport infrastructure has connected the country like never before. Eight major projects worth $6.7 billion have already added 888 kilometers of modern highways and motorways, while another 853 km are under construction. Among them, the Havelian — Thakot section of the Karakoram Highway stands out as a flagship, internationally recognized for its excellence and strategic significance. These highways are more than stretches of asphalt — they are arteries of commerce that reduce travel times, open new markets, and bring previously isolated regions into the fold of national development. Alongside roads, the 820-km optical fiber cable from Khunjerab Pass to Rawalpindi has given Pakistan its first land-based digital connectivity with China, while the Orange Line Metro Train has introduced modern and efficient public transport in Lahore. Step by step, the CPEC has transformed the way Pakistanis travel, trade and connect.