ISLAMABAD: China’s Hebei Juhang Energy Technology Group has expressed strong interest in setting up a large-scale solar panel manufacturing plant in Pakistan, targeting both domestic needs and international export markets.
A delegation led by Chairman Wang Jianbin, joined by representatives of the China-Pakistan Business Forum, met with Minister for the Board of Investment (BoI) Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh on Tuesday to outline plans for potential multi-billion-dollar investments in Pakistan’s solar and high-tech sectors.
‘A Golden Opportunity for Investment in Pakistan’
Welcoming the proposal, Minister Sheikh said this was “a great time and a golden opportunity for investment in Pakistan.” He highlighted the government’s ongoing reforms to improve ease of doing business—including the newly launched single-window Business Facilitation Centre (BFC) aimed at streamlining approvals and investor services.
The BoI informed the delegation that the government is ready to allocate 6,000 acres of land for the proposed investment. The minister also showcased the advantages of Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which offer incentives such as 10 years of zero income tax.
Economic Stability Boosting Investor Confidence
Sheikh emphasised that Pakistan is showing signs of economic stabilisation, noting the stock market’s significant surge—nearly four to five times growth over the past year. He highlighted agriculture, solar energy, information technology, chemicals, and manufacturing as high-potential sectors for foreign investors.
Follow-Up to Growing China-Pakistan Investment Ties
The discussion also referenced the outcomes of the second Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference held in Beijing in September, where agreements and joint ventures worth $8.5 billion were signed across priority sectors.
Minister Sheikh reaffirmed the BoI’s commitment to facilitating Chinese investors and urged swift progress on feasibility studies and joint-venture frameworks. He noted that Pakistan remains a strategic partner for China, welcoming high-quality, green-tech investments that can create jobs and support sustainable economic growth.
The proposed solar manufacturing plant marks another promising chapter in expanding bilateral industrial cooperation between the two countries.
Story by Amin Ahmed
