Tarin asks China to relocate industries to Pakistan’s SEZs

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin in a video message released on Thursday, hours before proceeding to a landmark visit to China along with the Prime Minister and senior government officials, termed the visit “very important” in the context of the economy.

Tarin said, “We will ask China to help us (Pakistan) by relocating their industries to the country because our Special Economic Zones are ready.”

He added that China should benefit from this “win-win situation.”

The Finance Minister also revealed that Prime Minister Imran Khan will ask President Xi Jinping to invest in the agriculture sector through the Agricultural Transformation Plan. He explained that investment in this sector would contribute to the overall growth of the economy.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China will further bolster bilateral ties between China and Pakistan.

PM Khan is scheduled to reach Beijing today (Feb 3, 2022) on a 4-day visit to participate in the Beijing Olympics at the invitation of Chinese President Xi.

The PM will attend the mega event to express solidarity with Beijing as some western countries led by the United States have announced a diplomatic boycott of the forthcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

The government further expects the Premier’s trip to China will reinvigorate the China-Pakistan Economic Corri­dor (CPEC) project.

Officials said, “Twenty-one different sectors have been short-listed for investment and development which will be discussed with the Chinese leadership.”

The sectors to be discussed during the PM’s visit to China are related to the Special Economic Zones created under CPEC, trade, information technology, agriculture, and the relocation of massive Chinese industries to Pakistan.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.