ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said Chinese investment could transform Pakistan’s health sector, calling the Pakistan, China B2B Investment Conference a major turning point for the country’s pharmaceutical industry.
Speaking at a joint press conference alongside the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, Kamal said agreements worth roughly $100 million were expected to be signed during the conference.
He described the event as a significant milestone for Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry, noting it covered all six segments of the sector and brought together 170 delegations from various categories within the industry.
Kamal said the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif broader goal of expanding Pakistan pharmaceutical exports and connecting the country to new international markets.
Addressing a separate B2B conference session, Kamal said Pakistan now offers a favorable environment for investors, noting that businesses can be registered within 20 days. He said the entire registration process can now be completed online, removing the need for investors to visit government offices in person.
He added that many of the obstacles investors previously faced have been eliminated, with registration procedures and departmental processes significantly simplified. Kamal encouraged Chinese investors to take advantage of these opportunities, saying that cooperation with Chinese companies could bring major progress to Pakistan’s health sector, particularly as more medical equipment is now being manufactured domestically.
Kamal said extensive coordination took place over the past six weeks between Pakistan Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, and other stakeholders to ensure the conference success.
He credited Haroon Akhtar Khan for holding numerous meetings during that period and said every detail of the event was carefully planned through close collaboration between the Ministry of Health, DRAP, and other relevant institutions.
He also acknowledged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for translating conference materials into Chinese to help facilitate communication with Chinese participants.
Kamal called the conference a landmark moment that showcased Pakistan’s potential to the international business community. He said technology transfer through expanded Pakistan, China cooperation would help the country access new global pharmaceutical markets, create jobs, and strengthen the local industry.
He thanked all stakeholders involved and expressed confidence that the conference would mark the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan, China pharmaceutical cooperation.
