ISLAMABAD (Internews): Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI), Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, on Wednesday said that the Pakistan-China Mineral Cooperation Forum was a significant initiative aimed at further strengthening economic and investment cooperation between Pakistan and China.
Addressing the forum as Guest of Honour, the Federal Minister stated that Pakistan and China were bound by a strong and time-tested bond of “iron friendship,” which continued to deepen through mutual trust, close cooperation, and shared development objectives. He emphasized that the enduring partnership between the two countries provided a solid foundation for expanding collaboration in priority sectors, particularly minerals and natural resources.
“I have personally witnessed the extraordinary development of China, from which Pakistan can learn a great deal,” the minister remarked, adding that enhanced cooperation in the mineral sector and other strategic areas would open new avenues for sustainable economic growth and long-term development.
The Federal Minister underscored the importance of further expanding people-to-people and business-to-business interactions between Pakistan and China. In this regard, he noted that more than 300 Pakistani companies visited China in September 2025, resulting in the signing of 167 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the Pak-China Business-to-Business Conference. He informed that the Board of Investment is actively pursuing the implementation of all signed MoUs to translate commitments into tangible investment outcomes.
Highlighting Pakistan’s vast untapped potential, Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh stated that Pakistan is richly endowed with mineral resources, including copper, gold, coal, rare earth elements, and other strategic minerals. He emphasized that the government is taking concrete initiatives to enhance mineral exploration, promote value addition, and ensure maximum economic benefit through sustainable and responsible development of the mineral sector.
The minister reiterated that the Board of Investment is providing maximum facilitation to investors by improving the Ease of Doing Business, offering incentives through Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and streamlining approval processes. He added that regulatory reforms are underway to further improve the investment climate and create a more conducive environment for foreign investors in Pakistan.
The forum was attended by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Pakistan Mr. Jiang Zaidong, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister Mr. Ali Pervaiz, senior government officials, representatives of Chinese and Pakistani companies, investors, and key stakeholders from the mineral and industrial sectors.
Concluding his remarks, the Federal Minister reaffirmed that the Board of Investment remains fully committed to promoting and facilitating foreign investment in Pakistan, particularly from China, to achieve long-term economic development, shared prosperity, and strengthened bilateral cooperation.
