Pakistan is seeking up to $5 billion in new investment at the upcoming Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference, scheduled for September 4 in Beijing, alongside the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025.
The forum aims to promote business-to-business partnerships, complementing traditional government-to-government engagement, and expand investment in key sectors.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi said in an interview that the country is prioritising concrete results over symbolic gestures. “We are not just counting handshakes – we are counting deals,” he stated.
Islamabad expects around 70 to 75 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and up to 40 joint ventures, with the possibility that investment volumes could exceed USD 5 billion if momentum continues.
Hashmi noted that the embassy has emerged as a central facilitator for B2B engagement, working alongside traditional G2G channels. The event is being supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the federal government, marking one of Pakistan’s most significant recent efforts in investment diplomacy.
He added that the strategy has already produced tangible results. Last year, MoUs and contracts worth more than $1.2 billion were signed, with over 20% already realised. The conference will highlight sectors with high export potential, including textiles, leather, agriculture, fisheries, plastics, and information and communications technology (ICT).
So far, embassy-led efforts have included 850 B2B meetings, resulting in 45 MoUs valued at $600 million. Another 60 MoUs are in advanced negotiation stages. Investor facilitation measures have been strengthened with exclusive lounges for Chinese investors at major airports, one-window business facilitation centres in provincial capitals, and simplified visa procedures, drawing on the “Shenzhen model” to make Pakistan more investor-friendly.
