Addressing the Pakistan–China B2B Investment Conference in Hangzhou, China, focused on IT, telecom, battery energy storage systems and agriculture, the prime minister said Pakistan offered an investor-friendly environment with significant opportunities across multiple sectors.
He said China was moving toward higher levels of industrialisation and rising labour costs meant some industries could become more viable in Pakistan, where production bases could be established for export to third markets.
PM Shehbaz highlighted textiles, leather, agriculture, mining and IT as key areas for cooperation, urging Chinese investors to explore Pakistan’s export zones, including opportunities in Karachi.
He said Pakistan has large untapped potential in minerals and gemstones and emphasised that agriculture could be transformed through improved seeds, mechanisation and modern practices developed in partnership with China.
The prime minister noted that Pakistan had already sent agricultural trainees to China, saying the next phase should focus on scaling productivity and export capacity, including increasing agricultural exports to China.
He also pointed to the development of special economic zones, including a 6,000-acre industrial zone in Karachi, offering long-term leases, infrastructure and one-window facilitation for investors.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan seeks investment, expertise and technology rather than loans or aid, stressing that economic self-reliance must come through productive partnerships.
He also reiterated the strength of Pakistan–China relations under President Xi Jinping, describing the partnership as historic and expanding into new domains, including science, industry and space-related cooperation.
The prime minister said multiple memorandums of understanding worth billions of dollars had already been signed and expressed hope that these would now be converted into formal agreements to deepen economic engagement between Pakistan and China.
