ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, on Thursday held a meeting with Hou Jianxin, Chairman of Shandong Xinxu Group Corporation, China, to discuss expanding cooperation and investment opportunities in Pakistan’s energy sector.
During the meeting, Hou Jianxin expressed his company’s strong interest in investing across Pakistan’s energy value chain and proposed a long-term strategic partnership. He stated that Shandong Xinxu Group possesses advanced technologies and expertise in upstream oil and gas operations, including field optimization, drilling services, and production enhancement, and is keen to collaborate in increasing hydrocarbon production in Pakistan.The Chairman also expressed interest in refinery modernization, particularly the installation of a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit to convert furnace oil into higher-value refined petroleum products. He further proposed establishing an energy equipment manufacturing facility in Pakistan to cater not only to domestic requirements but also to export markets in the Middle East.
Hou highlighted the company’s expertise in offshore oil exploration and development and proposed joint collaboration in Pakistan’s offshore sector. He also shared proposals for cooperation in lead mining, establishment of a sulphur processing plant, and the development of integrated energy cities along Pakistan’s coastline. These energy-oriented industrial clusters would combine LNG infrastructure, petroleum storage facilities, and petrochemical industries to promote industrial growth and energy security.
Welcoming the delegation, Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan is undertaking a comprehensive review of its energy landscape with the objective of enhancing energy security, attracting investment, and promoting value addition across the sector. He appreciated Shandong Xinxu Group’s interest in Pakistan and assured the delegation of the government’s full support in facilitating viable investment proposals.
The Minister directed the appointment of dedicated focal persons within the Petroleum Division to engage with the company on each proposal and ensure timely follow-up.
The Minister also noted that the Group had earlier met Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to China and commended the Chairman’s commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-China cooperation across strategic sectors. He expressed confidence that such partnerships would contribute significantly to Pakistan’s economic development and energy transformation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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