CHINA-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC has entered into CPEC Phase 2.0. This time the focus shifts from large-scale infrastructure to fostering of agricultural modernization, industrialization and socio-economic development.

Phase 2.0 will further bolster Pakistan’s cooperation with China through trade expansion, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and technology transfer in a bid to create jobs and reducing poverty. A question remains: What dividends will Balochistan obtain from CPEC Phase 2.0? Balochistan Assembly in October 2025 demanded inclusion of the province in CPEC Phase 2.0. The Assembly lawmakers maintained that Balochistan had to receive tangible dividends from the Phase 2.0 of mega project.

Agriculture modernization is the key component of CPEC Phase 2.0. Balochistan is called “fruit basket of Pakistan”. The province nearly shares 90 percent of the national production of cherries, grapes and almonds. Approximately 60 per cent of apricots, pomegranates and peaches while around 34 percent apples and 70 percent of dates are exported from Balochistan.  The agriculture and livestock sectors alone have the strength to provide more than two-thirds of the province’s workforce. More than 11.77 million acres land of the province equal to Switzerland an area wise so far has remained uncultivated. Balochistan offers ideal agro-climatic conditions for olive cultivation. Cultivating above-mentioned areas particularly olive oil under CPEC Phase 2.0 will transform Balochistan. Once rural areas........

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