Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal chaired a review meeting on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase-2 and the 13th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) here on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry, senior officials from various ministries, and representatives from the federal and provincial ministries, according to an official press release.

The officials received a comprehensive briefing on the preparations for the upcoming online JCC meeting scheduled for this week.

The discussions covered projects related to communications, infrastructure, energy, economic development, agriculture, and the security of Chinese officials working in Pakistan.

Addressing the security concerns for Chinese personnel, Ahsan Iqbal asserted that ensuring the protection and safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and programs is a top priority for the Government of Pakistan.

He highlighted that a comprehensive security strategy has been formulated, and Pakistan will implement effective measures to safeguard Chinese citizens.

The Minister emphasized the priority of commencing the bidding process for the ML-1 project without delay and establishing a precise timeline for its timely initiation.

Concerning the Mineral Corridor, he directed that efforts should be intensified to finalize the agreement during this JCC session.

Additionally, he instructed the organization of sub-working group meetings with Chinese officials to expedite discussions on the Mineral Corridor projects.