Pakistan and China have entered a new phase focused on production, exports, employment, and sustainable development.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, while addressing the China-Pakistan Mineral Cooperation Forum said the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations reflects continuity, trust, and strategic depth between the two countries.
Iqbal said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has transformed Pakistan’s development landscape. He highlighted progress in energy, highways, Gwadar Port, and national connectivity.
Pakistan and China have also launched the Pak-China E-Mining Platform. The digital initiative aims to improve data sharing, project coordination, and collaboration between Pakistani institutions and Chinese companies. Officials expect the platform to attract more than $10 billion in investment into Pakistan’s mineral sector.
The minister said CPEC 2.0 aligns fully with Pakistan’s national economic plan, Uraan Pakistan. The framework aims to achieve a trillion-dollar economy by 2035 through exports, technology, sustainability, energy, and social inclusion.
Iqbal said Pakistan and China recently signed a memorandum of understanding to link Uraan Pakistan’s Five Es with President Xi Jinping’s Five Growth Corridors. He said the agreement creates synergy in planning, investment, and execution.
🔴Pakistan's Mineral potential: $6–7 trillion
👉Current exports: $2 billion
👉Untapped opportunity: Value addition
Speaking at the Formal Launch of the Pakistan–China Mineral Cooperation Forum, Planning Minister Prof. Ahsan Iqbal outlined how improved governance, mapping, and… pic.twitter.com/YeIyYLP5jw
— Ministry of Planning and Development (@PlanComPakistan) January 28, 2026He described the mineral sector as central to achieving export targets. Pakistan’s mineral resources are valued at nearly $6 trillion, yet current mineral exports stand at about $2 billion annually.
Iqbal said governance reforms, modern technology, and global partnerships could raise mineral exports to between $6 billion and $8 billion per year. He added that such growth could create millions of jobs.
The minister urged expansion of mineral cooperation beyond extraction. He stressed the need for value addition through processing, smelting, and refining. He cited Saindak, Dodar, and Thar as successful models of cooperation.
🇵🇰🇨🇳What if 0.1% could change Pakistan’s economic future?
At the Pakistan–China Mineral Cooperation Forum,
Planning Minister Prof. Ahsan Iqbal proposed a bold yet practical idea:
if China allocates just 0.1% of its $2 trillion imports to Pakistan,
it could unlock exports, jobs… pic.twitter.com/rhFhBzoRar
— Ministry of Planning and Development (@PlanComPakistan) January 28, 2026Iqbal said the new investment agreements reflect growing confidence in Pakistan’s mineral sector. He stressed that development must remain sustainable and environmentally responsible. In his view, regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should receive tangible benefits through jobs, education, and healthcare.
On security, he clarified that protecting Chinese citizens and investments remains a top government priority. Authorities, he added, are taking concrete steps under the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
Read: Pakistan and US Sign MoUs to Boost Critical Minerals and Economic Ties
Iqbal invited China to invest in copper, gold, rare earth elements, and other strategic minerals. He said Pakistan wants to convert mineral wealth into industrial strength and export competitiveness.
The minister also urged China to open its vast import market to Pakistan. He said even a small trade quota could ease Pakistan’s reliance on IMF programmes. China’s annual imports stand at about $2 trillion, he noted.
Iqbal predicts Pakistan’s exports to China could rise from $3 billion to $50 billion by 2035. Such growth would ease foreign exchange pressure and support long-term stability, he added.
The recent Prime Minister’s visit to China elevated this cooperation to a strategic level, according to Iqbal. Multiple MoUs and trade agreements across minerals, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, IT, and logistics emerged from the trip.
The Pak-China E-Mining Platform was formally launched during the forum organised by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan. More than 70 Chinese companies, over 100 Pakistani firms, and around 800 participants attended the event.
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s interest in Pakistan’s mining sector. He stressed capacity building, technology transfer, and sustainable mining practices. He said responsible mining supports local communities and long-term development.
