PM Imran launches Pak-China Business Investment Forum

Published January 3, 2022
A glimpse of the launching ceremony of Pak-China Business Investment Forum in Islamabad on Monday. — YouTube screengrab
A glimpse of the launching ceremony of Pak-China Business Investment Forum in Islamabad on Monday. — YouTube screengrab

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched the Pak-China Business Investment Forum aimed at enhancing information exchange and promoting communication between businesses of the two countries, thereby opening up new avenues of cooperation.

According to Radio Pakistan, the forum consists of 18 Chinese and 19 Pakistani companies and its objective is to promote sustainable investment, export industry and development of modern technology in Pakistan.

The forum has been formed with the collaboration of the Board of Investment Pakistan and All Pakistan Chinese Enterprises.

Addressing its launching ceremony in Islamabad, the prime minister rued that smaller countries were faring much better than Pakistan in exports. "It is very painful for us. How can a country progress when it was not into exports?

He stressed that a country cannot progress until it sells its products to the world, also noting that the products have to be more than just agricultural in nature. "Countries do not progress by just selling vegetables," he added.

The prime minister said he was often given feedback from foreign investors about the cumbersome process of investment materialisation in Pakistan. "It takes a lot of time from an agreement to its implementation here, and the time is money for investors. He will turn away if no measures are taken for his facilitation."

PM Imran noted that planning was afoot with the Board of Investment to address the problem.

He informed that the government was now focused to undertake industrialisation and increase its exports.

Pakistan must learn urban planning from China

The premier said that Pakistan must learn urban planning from China to tackle disparity in resource management arising out of rapid population growth.

"Our cities are expanding so rapidly, which will eventually lead to food crisis and a gradual decrease in green areas. China switched to vertical development and saved their land for food development," he pointed out.

He said that he was scheduled to visit China next week, adding "however, the plan is tentative at the moment due to the Covid-19 situation,"

The prime minister said the trip, if it happens, would also focus on urban planning.

Opinion

One year on

One year on

Governance by the ruling coalition has been underwhelming and marked by growing authoritarianism.

Editorial

Climate funding gap
Updated 17 Feb, 2025

Climate funding gap

Pakistan must boost its institutional capacity to develop bankable climate projects.
UN monitoring report
Updated 17 Feb, 2025

UN monitoring report

Pakistan must press Kabul diplomatically over its tolerance of TTP terrorism.
Tax policy reform
17 Feb, 2025

Tax policy reform

THE cabinet’s decision to create a Tax Policy Office at the finance ministry has raised hopes that tax policy is...
Maintaining balance
Updated 16 Feb, 2025

Maintaining balance

It must take a more proactive approach to establishing Pakistan’s bona fides.
Welcome return
16 Feb, 2025

Welcome return

IT is almost here; the moment Pakistan has long been waiting for — the first International Cricket Council...
Childhood trauma
16 Feb, 2025

Childhood trauma

BEING a child in this society should not be so hard. But recurrent reports of child abuse — from burying girl...