For most Pakistanis, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has long been associated with highways, power plants and large infrastructure projects.

That was the most visible face of CPEC. But CPEC 2.0 points to something deeper. It suggests that the next phase of CPEC will be judged not only by roads and energy, but by whether it can strengthen the productive sectors of the economy. In that shift, agriculture deserves to be at the centre.

This is not simply an economic question. Agriculture remains deeply woven into Pakistan’s social and economic life. It contributes 23.5 percent to GDP and employs more than 37 percent of the labour force, making it central to food security, rural livelihoods and economic stability. Yet the sector has long been held back by low productivity, outdated farming methods, weak storage, poor transport, limited processing and growing climate pressure. Pakistan has the land, the farming experience and the crop diversity. What it has lacked is a consistent push toward modernization and value addition.

That is why the agricultural focus emerging under CPEC 2.0 matters so much. The recent Pak-China Agriculture Investment Conference offered a strong signal of intent. The signing of 78 memorandums of understanding worth 4.5 billion dollars showed that agriculture is no longer being treated as a secondary area of cooperation. It is becoming part of a broader strategy to improve productivity, strengthen supply chains and support export growth.

The logic behind this shift is clear. Pakistan and........

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