• PM welcomes IBI’s plan, sees move as gateway for SMEs to Chinese market
• Welcomes growing Pak-China B2B cooperation
• Felicitates Bulgarian counterpart
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday appreciated IBI Group’s decision to establish its digital economy headquarters in Pakistan and expressed hope that the initiative would provide a gateway for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the vast Chinese market.
The prime minister also expressed satisfaction over expanding business-to-business (B2B) cooperation between Pakistan and China.
He was talking to a high-level 11-member Chinese business delegation led by Qian Xiaojun, founder, president and controlling shareholder of IBI Beijing United Technology, which called on him at PM House, according to a press release issued by his office.
“The establishment of IBI’s Digital Economy headquarters in Pakistan would be a command centre for digital transformation and shall provide massive opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in Pakistan by offering a gateway for them to a vast Chinese market,” the press release quoted the prime minister as saying.
Welcoming the delegation, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and China enjoyed historic ties and were all-weather strategic cooperative partners. He lauded China’s remarkable progress under the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping and said he was looking forward to his visit to China later this month.
The prime minister said it was encouraging that IBI would promote digital economy cooperation, investment facilitation and industrial collaboration.
Expressing confidence in Pakistan’s economy, Qian Xiaojun said IBI hoped to help build a digital backbone for the transformation of Pakistan’s economy.
The delegation is visiting Pakistan as a follow-up to the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference held in Beijing in September 2025 during the prime minister’s visit.
Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, SAPM Tariq Fatemi and other senior officials were also present.
PM felicitates Bulgarian counterpart
Later, PM Shehbaz extended warm felicitations to Rumen Radev on his assumption of the office of prime minister of Bulgaria, expressing his desire to work closely with him for stronger bilateral cooperation.
In a letter, the prime minister congratulated his Bulgarian counterpart on his election to the high office.
“On behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, as well as on my own behalf, I wish to extend our warm and cordial felicitations to you on assumption of the Office of the Prime Minister of Bulgaria,” PM Shehbaz wrote.
He said Mr Radev’s election was a testament to the trust and confidence reposed by the people of Bulgaria in his abilities and leadership.
“Pakistan and Bulgaria enjoy close and cordial relations based on mutual respect and goodwill. I am confident that under Your Excellency’s sagacious leadership, these ties will continue to strengthen. In this context, I look forward to working closely with Your Excellency’s Government to further advance cooperation between our two countries,” the letter said.
PM Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes for Mr Radev’s continued good health, success and happiness, as well as for the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Bulgaria.
Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026
