Solar energy and related high-tech sectors: Chinese cos ready to make huge investments

ISLAMABAD: Chinese companies have expressed keen interest in investing billions of dollars in Pakistan’s solar energy and related high-tech sectors.

Federal Minister for Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, held a high-level meeting on Tuesday with a delegation from China’s Hebei Juhang Energy Technology Group Co, Ltd. The Chinese delegation was led by Chairman Wang Jianbin, along with representatives of the China–Pakistan Business Forum.

The meeting was also attended by senior BOI officials, including Zulfiqar Ali (Additional Secretary), Madam Erfa (Additional Secretary), and MehmoodTufail (Director General – Policy Reforms).

During the meeting, the Chinese side expressed keen interest in investing billions of USD in Pakistan’s solar energy and related high-tech sectors. They proposed establishing a large-scale solar panel manufacturing plant to harness both domestic demand and export potential.

Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh welcomed the proposal, noting that “this is a great time and a golden opportunity for investment in Pakistan”. He underlined the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment, referencing recent reforms launched by the Prime Minister to improve ease of doing business, including the new single-window BFC process for business facilitation.

As part of the facilitation package, the BOI informed the delegation that the government is prepared to allocate 6,000 acres of land for investment purposes. The minister also informed the delegation regarding the incentives being offered to investors in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The incentive package offers incentives, including zero income tax, to investors for ten years.

The minister noted that Pakistan is on a path toward economic stabilization, with the stock market index rising nearly four- to fivefold over the past year. He reiterated that sectors such as agriculture, solar energy, information technology, chemicals, and manufacturing offer strong growth and export potential for foreign investors.

The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of the second edition of the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference held in Beijing in September 2025, which resulted in agreements and joint ventures worth USD8.5 billion across multiple priority sectors.

In conclusion, Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh reaffirmed BOI’s unwavering commitment to supporting Chinese investors and called for expedited preparation of feasibility studies and joint venture agreements. He emphasized that Pakistan remains a strategic partner and welcomes high-quality, green-tech investments that will generate jobs and foster sustainable economic growth.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025