ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and Beijing will co-host the Pakistan-China Business Conference next month aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment across sectors including electric vehicles (EVs), solar energy, chemicals, and agriculture, state-run APP reported on Wednesday, as Islamabad pushes to deepen industrial cooperation under its long-standing economic partnership with Beijing.
The forum, scheduled for September 4 in China, is expected to draw participation from more than 250 companies from Pakistan and over 200 from China, with government officials touting it as a platform for sectoral matchmaking and investment mobilization.
“There will be industry matchmaking across sectors such as electric vehicles, solar energy, chemicals, and agriculture,” state news agency APP reported, quoting Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary as saying at a press conference in Beijing this week.
Iqbal emphasized the strategic role of electric vehicles in the future of Pakistan-China economic cooperation, noting the opportunities they offer for industrial development and sustainable energy transition.
“EVs have become a very important segment,” Iqbal said. “We want to benefit from China’s technological advancements, including the development of next-generation batteries such as sodium-ion batteries, which offer advantages over traditional lithium technology.”
The minister said Pakistan’s newly approved National Electric Vehicle Policy 2025–2030, which mandates that 30 percent of new vehicle sales be electric by 2030 and aims for net-zero transport by 2060, offers generous incentives for local and foreign investors. These include tax reductions, subsidies, support for charging infrastructure, and an emphasis on local manufacturing.
“Establishing EV manufacturing in Pakistan offers cost advantages for Chinese companies and will help Pakistan reduce dependence on fossil fuels,” Iqbal added. “We welcome Chinese investment in localized EV production. It’s a strategic step toward energy efficiency, job creation, and sustainable development.”
Chinese automakers, including BYD and Chery, are already active in Pakistan’s EV sector through vehicle assembly, charging infrastructure development, and partnerships aimed at positioning Pakistan as a regional EV production hub.
Pakistan and China are strategic economic partners, primarily linked through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Launched in 2015, CPEC has driven major infrastructure investment in Pakistan, including power plants, motorways, and the development of the Gwadar deep-sea port.
While the first phase of CPEC focused on large-scale infrastructure, the current second phase aims to enhance industrial cooperation, agriculture modernization and technology transfer.
The upcoming September conference is being positioned as a key initiative within this broader CPEC framework, reinforcing Islamabad’s efforts to attract green technology and innovation-focused investments from China.
