Pakistan has secured $8.5 billion in new investment deals with China during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing, marking a major milestone in bilateral cooperation under the next phase of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
According to Pakistan’s state media, the agreements finalized on Thursday in Beijing include $7 billion in memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and $1.5 billion in joint ventures across key sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, electric vehicles, health, and steel manufacturing. Officials said the new investments are aimed at accelerating Pakistan’s industrial growth, expanding clean energy access, and creating new jobs under the CPEC framework.
Prime Minister Sharif travelled to Beijing earlier in the week to attend the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where he also met with Chinese leaders to discuss the future of economic cooperation. During the visit, he officially launched CPEC Phase II, a new chapter focused on industrialization, innovation, and digital development.
In his televised remarks, Sharif expressed his government’s full commitment to supporting Chinese investors and ensuring the security of their personnel working in Pakistan. “We are removing bureaucratic barriers and creating a more efficient environment for Chinese companies to operate. Our focus is on fast-tracking CPEC projects and ensuring that investors feel safe and valued,” he said.
The CPEC, launched in 2013, remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s economic relationship with China. The initiative envisions an extensive network of roads, railways, energy projects, and industrial zones connecting China’s Xinjiang region to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea. This corridor is a central component of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global infrastructure program designed to enhance trade connectivity and economic development across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The new agreements expand cooperation beyond traditional infrastructure, targeting advanced industries and technology. Renewable energy projects and electric vehicle manufacturing are expected to receive significant investment under the new deals, aligning with Pakistan’s green growth goals and China’s clean-tech expertise.
While thousands of Chinese nationals continue to work on CPEC-related projects in Pakistan, security has remained a concern, with attacks by extremist groups in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Beijing has consistently urged Islamabad to strengthen protection measures. In response, the Pakistani government has increased surveillance, deployed additional security forces, and enhanced coordination to safeguard Chinese personnel and assets.
Officials say the latest round of agreements not only reaffirms China’s confidence in Pakistan’s economic potential but also signals a new phase of strategic cooperation based on mutual trust and development goals.
