Islamabad: A policy paper by EMPAK Strategies titled “Understanding China: China’s Economy and Industrial Policy” urges Pakistan to strengthen institutional capacity and align with China’s shifting economic focus. Speaking at the launch, Board of Investment Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh reiterated China’s support and noted government efforts to improve conditions for investors following past CPEC setbacks.
As Beijing’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) shifts from infrastructure financing to “new quality productive forces”-driven by technology, innovation, and R&D-Pakistan must adapt. China installed 295,000 industrial robots in 2024 (54% globally) and spent 3.93 trillion yuan on R&D in 2025.
Realignment is crucial given Pakistan’s widening trade deficit with China, which grew by $2.4 billion to reach $19.53 billion in FY 2025-26. Although Pakistani exports rose 10% to $2.67 billion, imports surged 14% to $22.2 billion.
Gulmina Bilal of China Global Professional Technical Certification highlighted Beijing’s push into strategic and emerging sectors, including IT, robotics, biomedicine, quantum tech, and 6G.
