Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said the China-Pakistan Information Corridor will strengthen bilateral relations by expanding media cooperation, digital connectivity, trade, cultural exchange and people-to-people contacts.
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Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the initiative, Tarar described the corridor as an important step towards strengthening the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China and passing its legacy on to future generations.
He said the initiative would complement the physical connectivity developed through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by bringing people, institutions and businesses closer through information and digital cooperation.
Four Pillars of the Information Corridor
Tarar said the China-Pakistan Information Corridor was built around four key pillars: media cooperation, trade, think tanks, and culture, tourism and youth engagement. Work on all four areas has begun, according to the minister.
The media pillar includes a News Exchange Working Group comprising 18 media organisations from Pakistan and China. The group includes public broadcasters, private television channels and Chinese media organisations such as Xinhua, China Media Group and People’s Daily.
The participating organisations will exchange verified news and improve cooperation in reporting on bilateral affairs. A fact-checking mechanism is also planned to identify misleading narratives and respond with credible information and evidence.
Trade Portal and Business Cooperation
Under the trade pillar, the first regional office has been established in Karachi, Tarar said.
A dedicated trade portal is also being developed to document trade, investment and foreign direct investment between Pakistan and China. The platform will highlight the experiences of Chinese businesspeople operating in Pakistan and Pakistani entrepreneurs working in China through a planned podcast series.
The think-tank pillar will focus on joint dialogue, research and publications to support evidence-based discussions on bilateral relations.
Tourism Corridor and Youth Ambassadors
The fourth pillar focuses on culture, tourism and youth engagement. Tarar said work was underway on a proposed tourism corridor connecting Xinjiang with Gilgit-Baltistan to improve access for Chinese tourists visiting Pakistan’s northern areas.
A friendship rally is also planned as part of activities marking the anniversary of Pakistan-China friendship.
The minister added that young people from 13 universities across Pakistan had been nominated for the initiative’s first group of youth ambassadors. The institutions represent regions ranging from Gilgit, Quetta, Peshawar and Karachi to Muzaffarabad and Lahore.
CPEC 2.0 to Expand Digital and Economic Cooperation
Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Tarar said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan in 2015 gave fresh momentum to bilateral relations and advanced the flagship economic cooperation initiative under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
He said CPEC had delivered progress in energy, infrastructure and connectivity, while the next phase, known as CPEC 2.0, would focus on growth, employment, innovation, green development and openness.
Tarar also highlighted the fibre-optic cable laid through the Khunjerab Pass, describing it as a direct digital link between the two countries. He said the first phase of CPEC connected Pakistan and China physically, while the next phase would bring their people closer through knowledge, information and digital collaboration.
Digital Economy Offers Opportunities for Pakistani Youth
Tarar stressed that digital technology could play an important role in Pakistan’s economic and social development, particularly given the country’s young population.
He said more than 68 per cent of Pakistan’s population was under the age of 30, making digital skills and access to technology important for employment and participation in the global economy.
“A laptop in the hands of a young person is a passport, and a smartphone is a marketplace,” he said, highlighting the opportunities technology could create for young people.
The minister said China’s progress in 5G, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and smart cities offered opportunities for cooperation as Pakistan worked to strengthen its position in the global digital economy.
He also referred to a proposed memorandum of understanding with Alibaba Group. According to Tarar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had advocated opportunities for Pakistani information technology students to learn about emerging technologies through scholarships.
The minister said a draft memorandum had been prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence and signed during the visit, with work on implementation continuing.
Tarar Calls for Stronger Information Cooperation
The minister said Pakistan and China shared a longstanding relationship rooted in mutual trust, respect and cooperation. He emphasised that digital connectivity and the ability to communicate a country’s own story were increasingly important in the modern information environment.
“Connectivity is power, and narrative sovereignty is essential in the digital era,” Tarar said.
He invited Chinese media organisations, think tanks, universities, businesses and youth ambassadors to participate in the four pillars of the information corridor.
Drawing a comparison with the Karakoram Highway, he said the new initiative would create another form of connection between the two countries, using information, verified reporting and public engagement to strengthen their partnership.
Tarar expressed confidence that the China-Pakistan Information Corridor would deepen mutual understanding and extend the story of Pakistan-China friendship to communities in both countries.
