PM Shehbaz seeks stronger Pakistan-China partnership in pharmaceutical sector

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and China in the pharmaceutical sector, saying Chinese investment, technology and expertise could help strengthen local medicine production, increase exports and improve access to affordable healthcare.

Addressing the Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical Conference, the prime minister described China as Pakistan’s “most sincere and trusted friend”, saying Beijing has consistently stood by Islamabad during challenging times.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a strong bridge of shared development and prosperity, adding that expanding collaboration in pharmaceutical manufacturing would contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth and public health objectives.

Welcoming Chinese investment in the country’s pharmaceutical industry, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan aims to benefit from China’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, technological expertise and investment potential.

The prime minister said Pakistan was actively promoting business-to-business partnerships between Pakistani and Chinese pharmaceutical companies, adding that joint ventures could significantly reduce the country’s reliance on imported medicines and raw materials while enhancing pharmaceutical exports.

He said greater cooperation between the two countries would also enable the production of quality medicines at lower costs, making healthcare more affordable for the public.

Referring to recent regional developments, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan played a constructive role in preventing tensions in the region from escalating into a broader conflict. He credited the country’s leadership, including Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for contributing to regional stability and said the Islamabad memorandum of understanding was achieved through Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Iran and the United States.

Reaffirming the longstanding ties between Islamabad and Beijing, the prime minister said the prosperity of Pakistan and China is closely interconnected and expressed confidence that deeper cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector would further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.