On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed relevant authorities to accelerate the implementation of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Chinese government and companies.
In a review meeting on Pak-China cooperation held at the PM House, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the significance of China’s support for Pakistan, referring to China as a steadfast ally that has consistently helped Pakistan in times of need. He noted the Chinese leadership’s dedication to increasing investment in Pakistan, which he believes will boost the country’s economy through enhanced exports and job creation.
During the meeting, PM Sharif was updated on the progress of various projects involving Chinese collaboration. It was reported that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway will be completed through a Public-Private Partnership.
Additionally, a plan was finalized to send 1,000 students to China for advanced agricultural vocational training at government expense. The first batch is scheduled to depart at the beginning of the academic year, with subsequent batches to follow after the students have learned Chinese in Pakistan.
The meeting also covered the transition of power plants from using imported coal to local coal, a process nearing completion. Furthermore, a road show to promote business and investment opportunities in Pakistan is being organized in Beijing with Chinese support.
A comprehensive plan for transferring Chinese industries to Pakistan was presented, including collaborations with Chinese textile, medical and surgical equipment, plastic, and leather industries. Seventy-eight Pakistani companies have initially shown strong interest in partnering for this industry transfer.
The Board of Investment (BoI) provided a detailed progress report and action plan, which was praised by the Prime Minister. He directed relevant departments and officials to ensure all necessary support for Pakistani companies working with Chinese firms.
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 senior officials. Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, and Rana Tanvir Hussain joined via video link.
