Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announces PM Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming visit to China for a B2B forum, highlighting growing Pakistan-China digital partnership.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would undertake an official visit to China from May 23 to May 26. The visit is expected to include a vibrant business forum aimed at further deepening commercial ties between the two countries.
In his keynote address during the launching ceremony of the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in Islamabad, Dar emphasized that this milestone marks a transformative moment in the enduring Pakistan-China partnership. He highlighted PM Shehbaz's vision for establishing Pakistan as a regional hub for digital innovation and noted that the partnership is transitioning from traditional infrastructure projects to "intelligent infrastructure," including AI, ICT, and digital connectivity.
Dar stated, "Today, we are moving from roads to networks, from physical infrastructure to digital architecture. We are building a digital Silk Road today, beginning with the launch of the IBI headquarters in Islamabad." He further elaborated that under CPEC 2.0, cooperation is expanding beyond traditional sectors into areas such as digital transformation, smart cities, and climate resilience.
The deputy prime minister also shared optimistic economic indicators, including a decline in inflation, an increase in GDP, and reduced policy interest rates. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to returning Pakistan to the roadmap of becoming a top-20 global economy. Noting that Pakistan has reached significant IT potential and global competitiveness, Dar welcomed Beijing United Information Technology (IBI) to the country.
Ambassador Khalil Hashmi, who facilitated B2B forums during recent visits to China, highlighted IBI's role as an e-commerce giant for industrial goods. He emphasized that by deepening digital industrial cooperation and synchronizing government and corporate resources, IBI has successfully translated high-level leadership directives into tangible results.
Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan also addressed the launching ceremony, underscoring the importance of this visit for fostering further economic collaboration between Pakistan and China.
