QUETTA: Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called a high level meeting in Islamabad on Monday to review concerns raised by a Chinese company that had briefly announced closure of its operations in Pakistan and China, including a facility in Gwadar.
The company, Han Geng Group, issued a statement on Friday citing administrative, policy, and operational hurdles that made continued business activity difficult. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Ahsan Iqbal took immediate notice and directed relevant authorities to examine and resolve the issues.
Consequently, officials engaged with the company, offering assurances to address its concerns. Following these efforts, the company withdrew its shutdown announcement and confirmed it would continue operations.
Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that all obstacles faced by investors under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor would be removed on a priority basis. He stressed that maintaining investor confidence remains essential for ongoing development projects.
In its earlier statement, the company said non market factors and administrative delays had prevented it from obtaining export approvals despite meeting international standards. Additionally, it highlighted financial losses over the past three months due to salaries, energy costs, and contractual penalties.
Furthermore, the firm expressed concern over policy implementation challenges, particularly given its involvement in key projects linked to Gwadar Port and CPEC.
As a result, the government has accelerated efforts to improve coordination among departments and streamline approval processes. Officials aim to prevent similar incidents and strengthen the investment environment for foreign partners.
Ultimately, the episode underscores the importance of efficient governance in sustaining large scale infrastructure and economic initiatives across Pakistan.
