Islamabad: Pakistani officials and experts are of the belief that the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by China is aligned with Pakistan's vision of achieving sustainable development goals by promoting people-centric development, connectivity and regional integration.
With deep strategic ties between Pakistan and China, including cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan is well-positioned to integrate GDI into its development framework, said the officials during a ceremony here on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Romina Khurshid Alam, convener of the Pakistan-China parliamentary friendship group and coordinator to the prime minister on climate change and environmental coordination, highlighted the role of GDI in advancing inclusive growth, climate resilience, and South-South cooperation.
"Pakistan sees the GDI not merely as a global framework but as an intrinsic element of its national development strategy -- one that emphasizes public accountability, equity, and ownership by the people through their elected representatives," she said.
Alam said that a national program is being launched to embed the GDI across Pakistan's legislative, academic, and civic sectors, adding that with multi-party consensus, the program is aimed to mainstream GDI through policy dialogues, public outreach, youth and academic engagement, human security frameworks, and strengthened parliamentary cooperation with China.
Talking about the Pakistan-China time-tested friendship, the official underlined that the relationship between the two countries has matured into a comprehensive partnership, which not only strengthened bilateral ties, but also served as a beacon of solidarity in the Global South.
The GDI complements Pakistan's national goals of infrastructure modernization, environmental resilience, and equitable development, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said.
"As the global community searches for models that promote equitable and sustainable growth, GDI offers a timely and people-centric solution. It is a symbol of connectivity, coastal development, and regional integration," the minister said.