Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to strengthening its strategic economic partnership with China by ensuring a conducive, transparent and investor-friendly environment, particularly in the agriculture and food security sectors.
Addressing the Pakistan–China Investment Conference, the minister said the Ministry of National Food Security and Research was fully committed to supporting Chinese investors, from facilitating regulatory processes to ensuring seamless coordination with all relevant government departments and institutions.
He said the government’s objective was not merely to attract investment but to make Pakistan a place where Chinese enterprises could grow, innovate and succeed alongside Pakistani partners. “Together, Pakistan and China can push the boundaries of innovation, transform agri-technology, strengthen food security and reshape the economic landscape of the region,” he said, stressing the need to move forward with courage, ambition and unwavering mutual respect.
Rana Tanveer said the conference was not just an investment forum but a reaffirmation of a friendship that had stood the test of time. “Pakistan and China are more than strategic partners. We are rightly known as iron brothers,” he added.
Highlighting the strength of bilateral economic ties, the minister said Pakistan’s exports to China reached approximately $2.38 billion in FY 2024–25, while imports stood at $16.3 billion, reflecting growing demand on both sides despite global economic headwinds. He said this performance demonstrated resilience and expanding opportunities under the China–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) framework.
He said the completion of CPEC Phase I and the launch of CPEC Phase II marked a decisive shift toward industrialization, technology transfer, renewable energy and people-centric development. He noted that 41 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed in September 2025, covering modern farming, livestock, fisheries, farm mechanization and advanced technology transfer.
“These initiatives are not just projects; they are lifelines of growth, confidence and mutual trust,” he said, adding that they aim to enhance productivity, expand exports, strengthen food security and ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The minister further shared that the conference witnessed participation from 119 Chinese companies and 191 Pakistani companies, reflecting strong private-sector interest. He said heavy investments worth millions of dollars are expected, with multiple MoUs likely to be finalized by the end of the day across 10 key sectors, including agriculture, food processing, livestock, fisheries, agri-inputs, farm machinery, renewable energy, logistics, technology and value-added exports.
Meanwhile, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research Saif Anjum said Pakistan’s agriculture sector offers vast investment opportunities, particularly under the Pakistan–China partnership in CPEC Phase II. He identified low productivity, weak infrastructure and high post-harvest losses as major challenges, noting that these gaps also create strong potential for technology transfer, value addition and joint ventures.
He highlighted priority sub-sectors including agri-inputs, farm machinery, food processing, dairy and meat, and said government reforms, new policies and export protocols are repositioning agriculture as a key driver of sustainable economic growth. He added that under the Agriculture Innovation and Growth Plan (AIGP), the government aims to double agricultural exports within five years.
Additional Secretary Board of Investment (BOI) Arfa Iqbal said Pakistan is positioning itself as a competitive and facilitative destination for foreign investors through coordinated reforms and investor-centric policies. She highlighted Pakistan’s liberal investment regime, noting that all sectors are open to foreign direct investment, with full repatriation of profits and access to both local and foreign financing.
She said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, declared a flagship project by China, along with Pakistan’s geostrategic location, large workforce and abundant resource base, provides strong foundations for sustainable investment, particularly in agriculture, industry and technology.
She added that BOI is implementing regulatory reforms under the Asaan Karobar framework to reduce procedural hurdles, with agriculture among the key focus sectors for ease of doing business. Working closely with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), BOI provides end-to-end facilitation to foreign investors, including work visa recommendations, branch office approvals, security clearances and airport entry passes.
An official of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said the Board is fully focused on facilitating agricultural trade and investment through productive measures. He highlighted that FBR has introduced fully digital customs import and export procedures, significantly reducing clearance time and improving transparency.
The official added that zero-percent customs duty incentives on seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and agricultural machinery are boosting productivity, while export facilitation schemes and streamlined regulatory processes are helping agri-exporters enhance competitiveness and support sustainable economic growth.
