Pakpattan Eyes Chinese Investment Through PCJCCI Partnership
In a significant stride toward regional economic collaboration, the Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) hosted a high-level delegation from the Pakpattan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) at its Lahore office. This meeting reflects a shared vision to amplify Chinese involvement in underrepresented business regions of Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.
Led by PCCI President Dewan Muhammad Azmat Mehmood Chishti, with senior members Tanveer Ather Hussain Bukhari and Khalid Raffique Chaudhry, the delegation engaged in focused discussions on strengthening Pakpattan’s business infrastructure and forging strategic alliances.
Zafar Iqbal, Acting President of PCJCCI, emphasised the chamber’s commitment to extending its influence beyond metropolitan areas to unlock the economic potential of Pakistan’s regional economies. Highlighting Pakpattan’s agricultural strengths and vibrant SME base, he called for targeted collaboration, including training, technology transfer, and investment initiatives.
Dewan Chishti outlined Pakpattan’s prominence in agriculture, particularly wheat, rice, cotton, and dairy production. He underscored the city’s potential for joint ventures in agro-technology, food packaging, and textile value chains, urging deeper integration into PCJCCI’s national and international outreach, such as future trade missions and industrial exhibitions.
Khalid Raffique Chaudhry proposed specific capacity-building programmes focusing on export readiness, product development, and familiarisation with Chinese business practices. He also advocated pilot projects with Chinese partners, including cold storage units, drip irrigation systems, and textile production using advanced machinery.
Secretary General PCJCCI, Salahuddin Hanif, proposed organising a “Pakpattan-China Investment Roundtable” to facilitate direct engagement between Chinese enterprises and local stakeholders in areas like rural industrialisation, agri-tech, and textile equipment.
The meeting concluded with mutual agreement on launching entrepreneur training programmes, matchmaking events, and detailed investment proposals targeting agro-industrial and light engineering growth in South Punjab — marking a new chapter in regional economic integration under CPEC.