Pakistan, China move closer to laptop manufacturing partnership

Gwadar Pro

Islamabad: In a key development for Pakistan’s technology sector, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Haroon Akhtar Khan held talks with the CEO of HYF, a leading Chinese electronics firm, on setting up a laptop and tablet manufacturing plant in Pakistan.

The Chinese company specializes in laptops, fingerprint devices, and digital tablets, and is now considering investing in local production facilities in Pakistan. Haroon Akhtar reassured the visiting delegation that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed full facilitation for Chinese investors, declaring them “a top priority” for Pakistan’s economic agenda.

He announced that a new Mobile Device Policy, covering laptops and tablets in addition to smartphones, will soon be unveiled, creating an enabling environment for investors. He also highlighted that visa procedures for Chinese businesspersons had been streamlined, with visit and business visas now processed within 24 to 72 hours.

According to an official statement, the SAPM instructed the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and the Engineering Development Board (EDB) to extend full support for HYF’s entry into Pakistan. Analysts note that this move could not only reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported electronics but also create jobs, boost technology transfer, and enhance local skills training.

The initiative reflects a growing trend of Chinese companies shifting from infrastructure investments to high-tech industrial cooperation in Pakistan, thereby diversifying the scope of bilateral economic engagement.