Pakistan invites Belt and Road Initiative partners to CPEC Phase II

Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan used his address at the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong to reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to the initiative, according to Business Recorder. He invited BRI partners to pursue opportunities under CPEC Phase II and described the corridor as a driver of progress in infrastructure, energy and industrialisation.

He presented Pakistan as a link between West, Central and East Asia, pointing to expanding rail and road ties with China and transit-trade deals with Central Asian neighbours. According to him, these routes open access to a regional market of roughly 1.5 billion people. Port reforms, digital customs and modern logistics are also cutting costs and transit times, which he said strengthens the country's role as a transhipment centre.

Outlining his economic strategy, the minister said export-led growth, industrial modernisation and regulatory reform are the priorities, alongside value addition and wider integration into global value chains. He linked greater macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline and better credit ratings to stronger investor confidence, and invited overseas investors to explore minerals, agriculture and tourism. He also said remittances of roughly $40 billion a year reflect the skills and credibility of the overseas workforce.