Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged leading Chinese enterprises to relocate industries to Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), highlighting the country’s advantages of skilled yet affordable labour, competitive input costs, and strategic connectivity with regional and global markets.
During meetings with senior Chinese business executives in Beijing, the premier emphasised that Pakistan offers a conducive investment climate supported by tax incentives, streamlined visa policies for Chinese nationals, and dedicated airport facilities for business travellers. He assured companies that Pakistan is fully committed to facilitating win-win industrial partnerships.
Boosting Pak-China Business Cooperation
The discussions covered potential investments in key sectors, including textiles, information technology, agriculture, mining, road and digital connectivity, e-commerce, and space technologies. Shehbaz stressed that industrial cooperation remains the backbone of Pakistan-China economic ties and a core pillar of the second phase of CPEC’s high-quality development.
He also underlined the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as a one-window platform to fast-track foreign investments and remove bureaucratic hurdles. “Enhanced Chinese investment in Pakistan will strengthen the CPEC vision as a driver of regional growth and prosperity,” he said.
Engagement at SCO Summit
The prime minister attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, where he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy in resolving regional disputes, particularly under the Indus Waters Treaty framework. He also met Chinese President Xi Jinping, with both leaders reaffirming their pledge to advance CPEC through five new corridors of cooperation.
On the sidelines, Shehbaz met Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders agreed to boost bilateral trade, energy, and connectivity projects, with Putin inviting Shehbaz to attend the SCO summit in Russia this November.
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