PM Shehbaz Sharif vows to facilitate Chinese investment in Pakistan
Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that his government will facilitate Chinese investment in Pakistan.
During a meeting with Ambassador Jiang Zaidong of the People’s Republic of China at the Prime Minister’s House, he reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the timely execution of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Prime Minister Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s eagerness to progress to the next phase of CPEC, particularly focusing on the operationalization of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to facilitate Chinese investment .
The meeting, attended by Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and the foreign secretary, highlighted the creation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) during Sharif’s previous tenure.
The SIFC was established to attract foreign investment in key sectors such as agriculture, IT, minerals, and renewable energy.
PM Sharif expressed confidence that Chinese companies would discover numerous profitable opportunities in Pakistan, signaling the country’s readiness for increased collaboration.
Acknowledging the warm messages of greetings from President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on his re-election and assumption of office, the prime minister extended his gratitude.
He reciprocated the warmth and underscored the profound contribution and steadfast dedication of the Chinese leadership in bolstering the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China.
Ambassador Jiang reiterated China’s eagerness to further fortify the Pakistan-China friendship.
He extended an invitation to the prime minister for an official visit to China, which was warmly received.
Prime Minister Sharif accepted the invitation, expressing his intent to undertake the visit at a mutually convenient date to be arranged through diplomatic channels, affirming the ongoing commitment to strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations.
