PM Shehbaz vows stronger Pakistan-China business ties, investor-friendly reforms

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening business-to-business cooperation with China, emphasising that the government is prioritising a transparent, stable and investor-friendly framework to attract foreign investment.

The prime minister made these remarks during a meeting with a four-member Chinese delegation led by Jin Yongsheng, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted that expanding Pakistan-China economic partnerships remains a top priority, noting that Islamabad is committed to ensuring policy continuity and institutional support for investors. He said the government firmly believes in providing a predictable and business-friendly environment to facilitate long-term investments.

He underscored the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in streamlining procedures and offering one-window facilitation to both domestic and foreign investors. The council, he added, is playing a pivotal role in removing bureaucratic hurdles and accelerating project implementation.

Describing joint ventures such as Service Long March Tyres as vital to bilateral economic cooperation, the prime minister said such initiatives contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, technology transfer and export enhancement. He stressed that strengthening industrial collaboration with Chinese partners would help Pakistan boost its manufacturing base and expand export capacity.

The delegation briefed the prime minister on the company’s ongoing and future investment plans in Pakistan, noting that Service Long March Tyres remains focused on export-oriented production. Officials shared that the company generated export revenues of $54 million during the fiscal year 2024–25, reflecting its growing footprint in international markets.

The meeting was also informed that the Board of Investment (BOI) has been actively facilitating the company across multiple sectors. This includes support for establishing a dedicated development zone in Nooriabad, Sindh, where essential infrastructure and facilities have been provided to advance the project.

Speaking on the occasion, Jin Yongsheng appreciated Pakistan’s investor-friendly policies and ongoing economic reforms, expressing confidence in further expanding the company’s operations in the country.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, and other senior officials.