Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reiterated that the security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan remains the government’s highest priority, assuring Chinese investors of comprehensive protection during an address to the Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical Business-to-Business conference.
Hailing the signing of nine agreements worth around $440 million between Pakistani and Chinese private enterprises in the pharmaceutical sector, he described the development as a major step toward strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and advancing the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Sharif said China had consistently stood by Pakistan during difficult times and had already invested more than $30 billion under the first phase of CPEC. He dubbed the new partnerships another milestone in expanding economic cooperation.
The prime minister expressed confidence that the agreements would turn into practical projects, saying they would boost investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccines, research and development, and help Pakistan emerge as a regional center for the production and export of life-saving medicines.
He also congratulated Pakistani and Chinese entrepreneurs on the agreements and praised the efforts of Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Chinese ambassador Jiang Zaidong, government institutions and business leaders for ensuring the success of the conference.
Highlighting Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace, the prime minister said Islamabad had played an important mediating role during the recent regional crisis with the support of friendly countries, particularly China. He appreciated the contributions of President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other Chinese leaders, and also acknowledged the efforts of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in diplomatic engagements.
Chinese security
Pakistan is in the midst of a terror resurgence, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the return to power of the Afghan Taliban in August 2021. The attacks have largely focused on police personnel, law enforcement agencies and security forces, though Chinese nationals working on key infrastructure projects in Pakistan have also been among targeted in recent years.
Earlier this week, the federal government said it would step up security around the Saindak copper and gold mine in Balochistan after terrorist violence disrupted supply routes.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the government had received the mine operator’s security concerns in early July and ordered agencies to increase deployment around its installations, personnel and cargo. “We have directed the provincial authorities and all concerned security agencies to beef up deployment for all of their installations, personnel, logistics and transportation,” he told the Reuters news agency.
“It is our priority to safeguard all projects run by international companies in Pakistan,” he said, adding that logistics and cargo shipments to the site would receive additional security protection.
Saindak’s managing director had reportedly written to the energy ministry warning that operations could become unsustainable within a month because deteriorating security conditions were disrupting supply routes. The mine is operated by the state-owned Metallurgical Corporation of China under a lease extended in 2022, and exports most of its output to China.