PM Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday invited Chinese businesses and investors to relocate industries to Pakistan and form joint ventures with local companies, describing the initiative as a mutually beneficial “win-win model” for both countries.
Addressing the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Hangzhou, the prime minister said rising labour costs in China and the country’s transition towards advanced industrialisation had created opportunities for industries to move operations to Pakistan.
He said Chinese firms could bring machinery and expertise to Pakistan, partner with Pakistani entrepreneurs, manufacture products locally, and export them to international markets.
“This model will prove highly successful for both Chinese and Pakistani businesses in sectors such as textiles, leather and other industries,” PM Shehbaz said during his speech, which was broadcast on national television.
The premier also encouraged Chinese investors to explore business opportunities in Karachi’s export processing and special economic zones, where Pakistan plans to offer modern infrastructure, investor-friendly policies, and one-window business operations.
Highlighting Pakistan’s mineral wealth, the prime minister said the country possessed vast reserves of minerals and gemstones that offered major opportunities for foreign investment.
Speaking about agriculture, he noted that Pakistan remained an agrarian economy and stressed the need for modern farming techniques, mechanisation, improved seeds, and technology transfer to enhance agricultural productivity.
He said Pakistan had recently sent 1,000 students to China for advanced agricultural training and hoped cooperation in the sector would significantly increase exports to China.
According to PM Shehbaz, China imports nearly $100 billion worth of agricultural products annually, while Pakistan’s current share remains very small. He expressed confidence that stronger bilateral cooperation could help raise Pakistan’s agricultural exports to China by around $10 billion within the next five to seven years.
The prime minister also highlighted opportunities in information technology, artificial intelligence, and battery energy storage systems, saying these sectors held enormous potential for future collaboration.
He announced plans for a major special economic zone near Karachi spanning more than 6,000 acres, where Chinese investors would be offered land on long-term leases under attractive conditions.
“We are looking for investment, expertise and experience — not loans, aid or handouts,” the prime minister said, adding that sustainable economic growth required self-reliance and productive partnerships.
PM Shehbaz further praised the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and described Pakistan-China ties as deeper than the ocean and higher than the Himalayas.
He also expressed satisfaction over the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth billions of dollars during engagements in Shenzhen and Hangzhou, noting that several had already been converted into formal agreements.
The prime minister concluded by reaffirming the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China, tracing bilateral relations back to the historic Silk Road era.