Islamabad, July 20, 2024 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the concerned authorities to expedite the implementation of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) made with the Chinese government and companies. He emphasized that any delay in executing these agreements would not be tolerated.
“China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan who has helped us in every hour of need,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated while chairing a review meeting on Pak-China cooperation at PM House. He highlighted the Chinese leadership’s determination to further expand investment in Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz pointed out that the transfer of Chinese industries to Pakistan would significantly boost the country’s economy, increase exports, and create new employment opportunities.
During the meeting, progress on various projects initiated with Chinese cooperation was reviewed. It was revealed that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway would be completed through a Public-Private Partnership. The authorities also discussed a plan to send 1,000 students for modern agricultural vocational training at government expense. The first batch of students is set to depart for China at the beginning of this academic year, with subsequent batches following after learning Chinese in Pakistan.
Additionally, the meeting was informed about the final stages of a plan to convert power plants running on imported coal to local coal. Regarding business and investment opportunities in Pakistan, a roadshow is being organized in Beijing with the cooperation of China.
A comprehensive roadmap for transferring Chinese industries to Pakistan was also presented. The Chinese textile, medical and surgical equipment, plastic, and leather industries will partner with Pakistani companies to relocate to Pakistan. “78 Pakistani companies have initially expressed deep interest in cooperating for the transfer of Chinese industries to Pakistan,” the meeting was informed.
The Board of Investment (BoI) presented a detailed report on the progress and action plan for this initiative. PM Shehbaz appreciated the BoI’s steps and recommendations, directing relevant departments and officers to provide all necessary facilities to Pakistani companies collaborating with Chinese counterparts.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Abdul Aleem Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Dr. Musadik Malik, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister of State Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan, and other high officials. Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, and Rana Tanvir Hussain attended via video link.
The directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are seen as a crucial step in strengthening Pakistan’s economic ties with China and ensuring that ongoing projects are completed efficiently. The emphasis on transferring Chinese industries and modernizing various sectors in Pakistan underlines the strategic importance of this bilateral cooperation. The government’s proactive approach aims to capitalize on the longstanding friendship with China to foster economic growth and stability in Pakistan.