Islamabad, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, said that the upcoming Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference on Pharmaceutical, Healthcare & Biotechnology in Islamabad on 17 july and 18th July marks a significant step towards strengthening industrial cooperation, attracting foreign investment, promoting technology transfer, and expanding local manufacturing in Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad, Haroon Akhtar Khan said the Conference will bring together 146 leading Chinese companies comprising approximately 220 delegates and more than 200 Pakistani companies, creating one of the largest Pakistan-China business engagements in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and biotechnology sectors.
He said the Conference is being organized by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, with the Board of Investment (BoI) and Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) serving as the Secretariat, while the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is leading the execution and operational management of the event.
Haroon Akhtar Khan stated that the initiative is fully aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to accelerate industrial development, increase foreign direct investment, localize manufacturing, create employment opportunities and modernize Pakistan’s healthcare industry.
He informed that the Conference will focus on six strategic sectors, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Biotechnology & Vaccines, Medical Devices, Generic Formulations & Injectables, Clinical Trials & Research, and Herbal & Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM).
Highlighting Pakistan’s industrial potential, Haroon Akhtar Khan noted that the country currently imports nearly 90 percent of the raw materials required by its pharmaceutical industry, emphasizing that attracting Chinese investment and advanced technologies would significantly strengthen domestic production capacity, reduce import dependence and enhance export competitiveness.
He further stated that Pakistani and Chinese companies have remained actively engaged over the past month through virtual matchmaking sessions, webinars and business interactions, enabling investors from both countries to identify mutually beneficial opportunities. These engagements have already resulted in the identification of eight concrete agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) expected to be signed during the Conference.
Haroon Akhtar Khan said dedicated B2B matchmaking sessions and one-to-one business meetings will be held throughout the Conference to facilitate joint ventures, technology partnerships and long-term industrial collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese enterprises.
He also announced that a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum on Skills Development will be organized on the sidelines of the Conference to strengthen cooperation in workforce development, technical education and human resource capacity building between Pakistan and China.
on the directions of the Prime Minister, a Steering Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production to supervise the preparations for the Conference. SAPM said seven Steering Committee meetings have so far been held jointly with the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination to review progress, ensure effective coordination and finalize arrangements for the successful conduct of the event.
Haroon Akhtar Khan expressed confidence that the Conference would open a new chapter of Pakistan-China industrial cooperation by promoting investment, facilitating technology transfer, encouraging local manufacturing and strengthening strategic partnerships in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and biotechnology sectors, thereby contributing to sustainable economic growth and improved healthcare outcomes for Pakistan.
