Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, paid an
official visit to the Project Management Unit of the CPEC Industrial Cooperation
Development Project (PMU CPEC–ICDP) at the Board of Investment, Islamabad, to
review progress on industrial cooperation and the development of Special Economic
Zones (SEZs) under Phase-II of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During the visit, the Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh was comprehensively
briefed on Pakistan’s engagement with China under CPEC Phase-II, with particular
focus on SEZ-led industrialization and Pakistan–China business-to-business (B2B)
cooperation, which form the backbone of the upgraded CPEC framework. The briefing
was attended by Additional Secretary BOI Dr. Erfa Iqbal, Director General / Project
Director PMU CPEC–ICDP Mr. Mehmood Tufail, Director General (SEZ) Mr. Riaz-ul-
Haque, along with other senior officers of the Board of Investment.
Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh was apprised of the institutional mandate
and coordinating role of PMU CPEC–ICDP as the dedicated execution and
implementation arm of the Board of Investment for industrial cooperation under CPEC.
In this regard, BOI serves as the lead Pakistani agency for the Joint Working Group
(JWG) on Industrial Cooperation, with China’s National Development and Reform
Commission (NDRC) as the counterpart lead agency. Since its inception in 2019, PMU
CPEC–ICDP has played a pivotal role in revitalizing Pakistan’s SEZ framework,
increasing the number of approved SEZs from 7 to 44, including the notification of 37
new SEZs through coordinated efforts led by BOI.
Key achievements highlighted during the briefing included progress on the
Karachi Industrial Park (KIP), development initiatives for the Gilgit-Baltistan SEZ, and
the approval of the Land Lease Policy for BQIP, which has addressed a longstanding
structural bottleneck for investors. The Federal Minister was also informed of BOI’s
facilitation in ensuring the provision of utilities to SEZs, enabling their transition from
planning stages to operational readiness.
The briefing further underscored BOI’s structured approach to investment
promotion and investor outreach, particularly with Chinese enterprises. In this context,
the Federal Minister was briefed on the Pakistan–China B2B Investment Conference
held during the official visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to China in
September 2025, which emerged as Pakistan’s largest international B2B investment
engagement to date, resulting in the signing of over 160 multi-billion-dollar MoUs and
joint ventures. A structured and robust follow-up mechanism is currently in place to
translate these commitments into tangible investment and industrial activity.
It was further shared that the Long-Term Plan for CPEC Industrial Cooperation
has been finalized and is being implemented through a structured Action Plan aligned
with the transition towards CPEC 2.0, emphasizing industry-led growth, export-oriented
manufacturing, technology transfer, and value addition, with SEZs serving as anchor
platforms
The alignment of CPEC Industrial Cooperation with the Government of
Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” 5Es Framework was also highlighted, particularly in
advancing exports, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting sustainable economic
development through joint-venture-based industrialization.
The Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh was further informed that 2026 will
mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, and that
PMU CPEC–ICDP has planned a series of commemorative and investment-focused
initiatives during the year to further deepen bilateral industrial cooperation.
Appreciating the efforts of BOI and PMU CPEC–ICDP, the Federal Minister
Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh emphasized that continuity, institutional capacity, and
preservation of institutional memory are essential for sustaining momentum under
CPEC Industrial Cooperation. He underscored that a coordinated, long-term approach
would be critical for effective implementation of CPEC Phase-II priorities and for
delivering on bilateral commitments agreed between Pakistan and China.
The Board of Investment under the leadership of Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed
Sheikh reaffirmed its strong commitment to proactive investor facilitation, policy
coordination, and effective implementation of CPEC Phase-II industrial cooperation
initiatives, and will continue to work closely with all federal and provincial stakeholders
to ensure a predictable, transparent, and investor-friendly environment for domestic and
foreign investors.
