Pakistan pushes Digital Silk Road as new CPEC priority

Pakistan has identified the Digital Silk Road as the key priority for CPEC’s next phase, proposing joint ventures with China in 5G/6G, hardware manufacturing, ICT components, AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity. During a meeting with China’s MIIT leadership, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized expanding CPEC beyond physical infrastructure into digital connectivity, smart manufacturing and skills development. Pakistan urged China to collaborate on overcoming global tech supply-chain barriers, adopt China’s “Intelligent Manufacturing” model for industrial upgrading, and strengthen fiber-optic and data-transit cooperation to position Pakistan as a regional digital hub.