Pakistan-China $440M Pharma Deals

Pakistan and China signed nine business-to-business agreements worth over $440 million in the pharmaceutical sector on July 17, 2026, during the Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical Business-to-Business Conference in Islamabad. The agreements cover local vaccine production, biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, technology transfer, and hepatitis prevention. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the deals as a major step towards strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and advancing CPEC 2.0. The agreements involve Pakistani and Chinese private enterprises and are expected to boost investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccines, and R&D, helping Pakistan emerge as a regional center for pharmaceutical exports. Additionally, a cooperation agreement related to Pakistan's Expanded Programme on Immunisation was signed. The conference was attended by around 300 Chinese delegates. Prime Minister Shehbaz also highlighted Pakistan's mediating role between the United States and Iran during a recent regional crisis, with support from China. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring the security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Separately, Shehbaz directed expediting the implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act, 2025, aiming to reduce regulatory burdens and generate savings of Rs468.7 billion for businesses.