PM’s Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan Calls the Event a Major Milestone۔
Islamabad (MNN)
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, has described the upcoming Pakistan–China B2B Investment Conference on Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare and Biotechnology, scheduled for July 17–18 in Islamabad, as a significant milestone for promoting industrial cooperation, attracting foreign investment, facilitating technology transfer, and strengthening local production in Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad, Haroon Akhtar Khan said the conference would bring together 146 leading Chinese companies, represented by around 220 delegates, alongside more than 200 Pakistani companies, making it one of the largest business engagements between Pakistan and China in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biotechnology sectors.
He said the conference is being organized by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, while the Board of Investment (BoI) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) are serving as the conference secretariat. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is responsible for event management and operational arrangements.
Haroon Akhtar Khan said the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of accelerating industrial development, increasing foreign direct investment, promoting local manufacturing, creating employment opportunities, and modernizing Pakistan’s healthcare industry.
He added that the conference will focus on six key sectors, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), biotechnology and vaccines, medical devices, generic medicines and injectables, clinical trials and research, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and herbal products.
Highlighting Pakistan’s industrial potential, Haroon Akhtar Khan said the country currently imports nearly 90 percent of the raw materials required by its pharmaceutical industry. He noted that Chinese investment and technology transfer would significantly enhance local manufacturing capacity, reduce import dependence, and boost exports.
He further stated that over the past month, Pakistani and Chinese companies have participated in a series of virtual matchmaking sessions, webinars, and business networking events to identify mutually beneficial investment opportunities. As a result, eight agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been identified and are expected to be signed during the conference.
The Special Assistant said the event will also feature B2B matchmaking sessions and one-on-one business meetings to facilitate joint ventures, technology partnerships, and long-term industrial collaboration between companies from both countries.
He also announced that a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum on Skills Development will be held alongside the conference to strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and China in workforce development, technical education, and skills enhancement.
Haroon Akhtar Khan said that, on the Prime Minister’s directives, a steering committee headed by him was established to oversee preparations for the conference. He added that seven steering committee meetings, jointly chaired with the Federal Minister for National Health Services, have already been held to review preparations, ensure inter-agency coordination, and finalize arrangements for the successful organization of the event.
Expressing optimism, Haroon Akhtar Khan said the conference would play a vital role in promoting investment, facilitating technology transfer, strengthening local industry, and deepening the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biotechnology sectors, ultimately contributing to Pakistan’s sustainable economic growth and the development of its healthcare system.
