Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed relevant authorities to expedite the implementation of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) made with the Chinese government and companies.
Chairing a review meeting on Pak-China cooperation at the PM House, the premier highlighted the importance of China's support to Pakistan. "China is a time-tested friend who has assisted Pakistan in every hour of need," he stated.
Prime Minister Sharif underscored the Chinese leadership's commitment to further expanding investment in Pakistan. He pointed out that the transfer of Chinese industry to Pakistan would significantly benefit the country's economy by increasing exports and creating employment opportunities.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz was briefed on the progress of various projects initiated with Chinese cooperation. It was reported that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway would be completed through a Public-Private Partnership.
Additionally, a plan to send 1,000 students for modern agricultural vocational training in China at government expense has been finalised. The first batch of students is set to depart at the beginning of this academic year, with the next batch to follow after learning Chinese in Pakistan.
The meeting also discussed the transfer of power plants from imported coal to local coal, which is in its final stages. Furthermore, a road show to promote business and investment opportunities in Pakistan is being organized in Beijing with Chinese cooperation.
A comprehensive roadmap for the transfer of Chinese industries to Pakistan was presented, revealing that Chinese textile, medical and surgical equipment, plastic, and leather industries are set to partner with Pakistani companies.
"Seventy-eight Pakistani companies have initially expressed deep interest in collaborating for the transfer of Chinese industries to Pakistan," the meeting was informed.
The Board of Investment (BoI) presented a detailed report on progress and an action plan, which received commendation from the Prime Minister. He instructed relevant departments and officers to provide all necessary facilities to Pakistani companies collaborating 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 high officials. Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, and Rana Tanvir Hussain participated via video link.
