Ahsan Iqbal, the federal minister for planning and development, has given the Power Division instructions to approve the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) energy policy as soon as possible.
The minister requested that the policy be approved immediately so that projects for GB that have already been agreed upon can move forward during a meeting to review the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project progress and make preparations for the upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting.
According to him, the CPEC framework might contain the recommendations for working together with China on water desalination and water treatment technology. He also emphasized that the JCC meeting’s agenda might be considered to include the development and production of solar panels for both domestic and global use.
Seven Joint Working Groups (JWGs) of CPEC meetings have been held, it was revealed during the meeting.
He said that ten specific areas of information technology sector collaboration have been agreed upon by the two sides.
The Ministry of National Food Security & Research also informed the gathering that the JWG on Agriculture will take place in the third week of September and that suggestions have been prepared. The JWG on energy’s agenda has already been set, and the meeting will take place in September, according to the Power Division.
The executive director of CPEC, the secretary of planning commission, the secretary of communication, and representatives from several ministries also attended the conference.