The Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday opened a two-day Pakistan-China health care investment conference, Pakistani state media reported, bringing together leading Pakistani pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology companies with Chinese investors, manufacturers, technology providers and industry leaders.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan and has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects, besides several Chinese private sector manufacturers undertaking joint ventures in the South Asian country.
Pakistan, on the other hand, is trying for economic stabilization under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, with policymakers increasingly shifting their focus toward reviving industrial activity, attracting investment and increasing exports.
The Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical & Healthcare B2B Investment Conference 2026 has been jointly organized by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Pakistani health ministry and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to promote investment, innovation and strategic partnerships in the pharmaceutical, health care, and biotechnology sectors.
“It will feature business-to-business (B2B) meetings, networking opportunities, and dedicated investment sessions to facilitate engagement between companies from both Pakistan and China,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported on Friday.
Around 160 Chinese firms, represented by nearly 180 delegates, are expected to take part in the conference, according to Pakistani Health Minister Mustafa Kamal.
“Around 340 Pakistani businessmen and business ventures will be participating, so approximately 500 Chinese and Pakistanis business communities will be participating [in this conference],” Kamal said at a presser this week.
“We make 85 percent of our own medicines, but we import 90 percent of its raw material,” the minister said, stressing the importance of business-to-business matchmaking at the event.
Delegates at the two-day conference will engage in structured B2B meetings, networking sessions, and investment discussions aimed at fostering joint ventures, technology transfer, contract manufacturing, research collaboration, and local production partnerships.
“The conference is expected to facilitate meaningful business engagements that support modernization of Pakistan’s health care ecosystem while enhancing the competitiveness of its pharmaceutical industry,” the SIFC said in an earlier statement.
“The Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical & Healthcare B2B Investment Conference 2026 is expected to further reinforce the longstanding strategic partnership between Pakistan and China by encouraging long-term industrial collaboration and unlocking new avenues of investment.”