Islamabad July 15, 2026(Ghufran): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Khalil Hashmi, to review progress on Pakistan-China economic cooperation, investment promotion, and initiatives aimed at further strengthening bilateral economic and financial relations.
The Finance Minister appreciated Ambassador Hashmi’s efforts in advancing Pakistan’s economic diplomacy in China and acknowledged the Embassy’s proactive role in facilitating investment partnerships between Pakistani and Chinese businesses. He emphasized that attracting quality foreign investment, expanding exports, and promoting private sector collaboration remain key priorities of the Government’s economic agenda.
During the meeting, Ambassador Hashmi briefed the Finance Minister on investment facilitation initiatives undertaken by Pakistan’s Embassy in Beijing. He informed the meeting that Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth over US$20 billion had been signed between Pakistani and Chinese entities, supported by a dedicated implementation monitoring mechanism. He noted that a significant number of these commitments had already advanced into formal agreements and commercial arrangements, reflecting strong momentum in bilateral investment cooperation.
The Ambassador highlighted growing interest from the Chinese private sector in Pakistan’s manufacturing, logistics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, textiles, and industrial services sectors. He shared that nine agreements had recently been concluded in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, while the Embassy is actively engaging more than 150 Chinese companies through its investment facilitation platform. Progress on major Chinese investments in industrial manufacturing, logistics infrastructure, and export-oriented textile projects currently under implementation in Pakistan was also reviewed.
The meeting discussed measures to strengthen business-to-business collaboration, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), through partnerships with leading Chinese industrial platforms. The Finance Minister appreciated the Embassy’s structured approach to investor engagement, including sector-specific outreach, advance project preparation, and enhanced coordination between prospective Chinese investors and Pakistani businesses.
Discussions also covered opportunities to expand cooperation in capital markets, sovereign financing, and emerging areas of financial innovation. Ambassador Hashmi briefed the Finance Minister on ongoing engagement with leading Chinese financial institutions and development partners, preparations for future investment roadshows, and prospects for enhanced collaboration with institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund to support private sector investment and infrastructure development.
The Ambassador also apprised the Finance Minister of ongoing efforts to align technical and vocational training with upcoming Chinese investments in order to develop the skilled workforce required by emerging industries. Both sides reviewed measures to further strengthen institutional coordination and improve investment facilitation mechanisms between Pakistan and China.
Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb appreciated the progress achieved and underscored the importance of translating investment commitments into timely implementation. He stressed the need for effective coordination across government institutions to facilitate project execution, strengthen investor confidence, and fully capitalize on emerging opportunities under the Pakistan-China economic partnership.
The meeting also reviewed Pakistan’s efforts to deepen economic cooperation under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA). Both sides discussed avenues for expanding exports, promoting value-added manufacturing, improving market access for Pakistani products, and encouraging long-term industrial collaboration between the two countries.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s strategic economic partnership with China, the Finance Minister emphasized that sustained economic reforms, improved ease of doing business, enhanced investment facilitation, and continued engagement with Chinese public and private sector stakeholders would remain central to Pakistan’s long-term economic strategy.