ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Pakistan and China strengthened their strategic economic partnership on Thursday by signing investment agreements worth nearly $440 million in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare sectors, marking another significant milestone in bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used the occasion to reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to protecting Chinese nationals, calling their safety the country’s highest priority.
Speaking at the Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical and Healthcare B2B Investment Conference in Islamabad, the prime minister said the newly signed agreements would pave the way for practical industrial collaboration, technology transfer and long-term investment between companies from both countries.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan deeply values its friendship with China, describing Beijing as one of Islamabad’s most trusted and dependable partners. He added that the relationship between the two countries has continued to grow stronger over the decades and remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign and economic policy.
The conference brought together government officials, investors, pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare industry representatives from Pakistan and China to explore new opportunities for cooperation in medicine production, biotechnology, research, medical equipment and healthcare services.
According to officials, the agreements signed during the event are expected to promote joint ventures, encourage technology sharing and strengthen Pakistan’s domestic pharmaceutical industry by introducing advanced manufacturing methods and expanding production capacity.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the projects would contribute significantly to Pakistan’s economic development by attracting foreign direct investment, creating employment opportunities and improving access to modern healthcare technologies.
He stressed that Pakistan is committed to creating a business-friendly environment for foreign investors and assured Chinese companies that the government would facilitate the timely implementation of every approved project.
The prime minister reiterated that the security of Chinese engineers, workers, investors and professionals remains a national responsibility. He said the government has adopted comprehensive measures to safeguard Chinese nationals involved in development projects across Pakistan.
“We will leave no stone unturned to provide the highest level of security to our Chinese brothers and sisters working in Pakistan,” the prime minister said while addressing participants.
His remarks come at a time when authorities have intensified security arrangements around Chinese-funded projects following recent terrorist threats targeting Chinese personnel, particularly in Balochistan and other sensitive regions.
The government has expanded security deployments, strengthened intelligence coordination and enhanced protective measures around strategic infrastructure linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Shehbaz Sharif described the latest agreements as another important step in advancing CPEC 2.0, the second phase of the flagship development initiative that focuses on industrial cooperation, agriculture, technology, innovation and special economic zones.
He said the first phase of CPEC transformed Pakistan’s infrastructure through investments in highways, energy projects and transport networks, while the second phase aims to expand collaboration in manufacturing, science, information technology and healthcare.
The prime minister noted that China has invested more than $30 billion in Pakistan under CPEC, making it the country’s largest foreign investment programme.
He also referred to his recent visit to China, calling it highly productive and saying discussions with Chinese leaders reinforced mutual confidence in expanding economic cooperation across multiple sectors.
Officials believe the healthcare agreements will help Pakistan improve local production of medicines, reduce reliance on imported pharmaceutical products and enhance research collaboration with leading Chinese biotechnology firms.
Industry representatives attending the conference expressed optimism that the agreements would strengthen Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports, improve quality standards and encourage innovation in medical research.
Chinese investors also highlighted Pakistan’s growing market potential, strategic location and expanding healthcare sector as important factors encouraging long-term investment.
Experts say collaboration in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology could help Pakistan develop advanced manufacturing capabilities, strengthen its healthcare supply chain and improve access to affordable medicines.
Government officials said implementation committees will monitor the progress of the agreements to ensure projects are completed efficiently and investment commitments are translated into operational businesses.
The conference concluded with both Pakistani and Chinese delegates reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation beyond traditional infrastructure projects into high-value sectors including healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical research and industrial innovation.
Officials expressed confidence that the new partnerships would deepen economic ties, strengthen bilateral relations and contribute to sustainable development while reinforcing the longstanding strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.
