Pakistan, China Sign $13bn Investment and Joint Venture Deals
Pakistan and China have signed investment agreements and joint venture arrangements worth more than $13 billion over the past two years, according to Pakistan’s ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi. The disclosure was made on Monday during a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where a 70-member delegation from China’s IBI Group met Pakistani business leaders to discuss trade, industrial cooperation and future investment opportunities.
Hashmi said the two countries had concluded more than 300 memorandums of understanding and over three dozen joint venture agreements during the period. He told participants that Islamabad had developed a structured follow-up mechanism to move business commitments beyond ceremony and into execution, signalling that the government now wants commercial diplomacy to produce measurable outcomes rather than remain limited to announcements.
A key point in the ambassador’s remarks was the reported conversion of nearly 30 per cent of signed MoUs into formal contracts and binding agreements. That ratio, while leaving room for improvement, suggests that a meaningful portion of bilateral commitments is progressing into active projects. For Pakistan, which has long faced criticism over delayed implementation and weak continuity, the figure was presented as evidence that official coordination with investors is becoming more practical and results-driven.
The ambassador also highlighted ongoing talks with CATL, one of the world’s largest battery manufacturers, as Pakistan seeks to position itself in the next phase of industrial and energy technology. He said discussions were under way to attract cooperation in battery manufacturing and related investment. Hashmi further noted that the global market is gradually shifting toward sodium-based technologies alongside lithium-ion systems, and argued that Pakistan has the raw material potential to support industries linked to that transition.
Beyond manufacturing, the meeting underscored a broader commercial vision centered on exports, technology transfer and industrial modernisation. Pakistani officials said the country is preparing an export promotion exhibition in China that will showcase more than 18 sectors of the national economy. The aim is to widen Pakistan’s commercial presence in the Chinese market and create channels for business partnerships in areas ranging from industry to trade services.
Chinese representatives also used the forum to frame Karachi as a strategic platform for deeper cooperation. IBI Group’s leadership described the city as a possible regional hub for digital trade and smart industrial transformation, citing its port access, industrial base and business network. Their remarks suggested that Chinese firms increasingly view Pakistan not only as a destination for isolated projects, but as a market that can support logistics, technology and industrial integration on a wider scale.
Business leaders in Karachi welcomed the momentum and linked it to institutional cooperation between chambers and private-sector bodies in both countries. Officials associated with the chamber said the understanding with IBI Group could support investment partnerships, trade promotion, technology flows and closer ties between the business communities of Pakistan and China. The visiting delegation also met stakeholders at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, broadening the engagement beyond a single event.
The significance of the announcement goes beyond headline investment numbers. At a time when Pakistan is trying to stabilise growth, attract foreign capital and strengthen exports, successful execution of even part of these agreements could affect jobs, industrial capacity, energy technology adoption and confidence in the country’s investment climate. Stronger commercial links with China may also help Pakistan diversify from short-term financing needs toward longer-term productive activity.
Looking ahead, the real test will be implementation. Pakistan has often announced ambitious economic plans that later slowed due to bureaucracy, financing gaps or policy inconsistency. The latest disclosure will therefore be judged by whether MoUs become factories, technology partnerships, export orders and durable joint ventures. With the prime minister expected to visit China in the coming period, officials appear eager to convert diplomatic goodwill into projects that can produce visible economic gains for Pakistan.