Pakistan is seeking to expand the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. The initiative aims to strengthen skills development, attract investment, and deepen cooperation with China to support sustainable economic growth.
TVET Symposium Sets Stage for Investment
Pakistan’s embassy in Beijing hosted a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Symposium on pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and biotechnology.
The event served as a preparatory platform for the Pakistan–China B2B Investment Conference on Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare and Biotechnology, which will take place in Karachi from July 17 to 19.
Pakistan Seeks Stronger TVET Cooperation
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, said Islamabad plans to integrate leading Chinese TVET institutions into the upcoming investment conference.
Moreover, Pakistan will organize a dedicated TVET partnership forum alongside the event. The forum aims to strengthen vocational education, human resource development, and investment facilitation under CPEC 2.0.
Focus on Skills and Innovation
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal called for joint training programs, university-industry collaboration, and Pakistan-China centers of excellence.
He emphasized that these initiatives will prepare a skilled workforce for the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biotechnology industries.
China Supports Education Partnership
Zhang Junhua, an official from China’s human resources ministry, announced that five leading Chinese technical institutions specializing in pharmaceutical and healthcare education have been invited to explore cooperation with Pakistan.
In addition, both countries aim to strengthen knowledge exchange and technical training to support industrial growth.
CPEC 2.0 Expands Beyond Infrastructure
The second phase of CPEC focuses on industrial development, agriculture, information technology, and Special Economic Zones rather than infrastructure alone.
As a result, the addition of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology reflects Pakistan’s broader strategy to diversify economic cooperation with China.
Challenges Remain
Despite renewed momentum, several CPEC projects have experienced delays in recent years. Security concerns and bureaucratic hurdles have slowed implementation.
Nevertheless, both Pakistan and China continue to reaffirm their commitment to advancing CPEC 2.0 and expanding cooperation in emerging sectors.
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