ISLAMABAD: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has assured Chinese investors of Pakistan’s full support for investments in the country’s pharmaceutical and health care sectors, Pakistani state media reported on Saturday, as Islamabad hosted a two-day Pakistan–China health care investment summit.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan and has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects, besides several Chinese private sector manufacturers undertaking joint ventures in the South Asian country.
The Pakistan–China Pharmaceutical & Healthcare B2B Investment Conference 2026, which opened on Friday, brought together Pakistani pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology companies with Chinese investors, manufacturers, technology providers and industry leaders.
Addressing attendees at the conference, Health Minister Kamal said Islamabad would fully facilitate Chinese companies intending to invest in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical and health care sectors, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“No obstacle would be allowed to impede Chinese investment in the country,” he was quoted as saying.
Delegates at the two-day conference engaged in structured B2B meetings, networking sessions, and investment discussions aimed at fostering joint ventures, technology transfer, contract manufacturing and research collaboration, with Pakistani and Chinese companies signing agreements worth about $440 million on the opening day of the conference.
It comes at a time when Pakistan is trying for economic stabilization under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, with policymakers increasingly shifting their focus toward reviving industrial activity, attracting investment and increasing exports.
Kamal highlighted the vast investment potential of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical and health care market.
Referring to reforms in the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), the minister said it had been transformed into a “vibrant institution” over the past year.
“The registration process for medical devices, which previously took around two and a half years, has been reduced to about 20 days through digitization,” he said, adding that DRAP processed 4,700 registration cases during the last eight months.
Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which jointly organized the summit, this week said the conference was expected to facilitate “meaningful business engagements that support modernization of Pakistan’s health care ecosystem while enhancing the competitiveness of its pharmaceutical industry.”
“The Pakistan–China Pharmaceutical & Healthcare B2B Investment Conference 2026 is expected to further reinforce the longstanding strategic partnership between Pakistan and China by encouraging long-term industrial collaboration and unlocking new avenues of investment,” it added.
