Says launch of IBI headquarters marks transformative milestone in Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Partnership
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. Photo: APP
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that PM Shehbaz Sharif would undertake an official visit to China from May 23-26, saying the visit would include a vibrant business-to-business forum aimed at further strengthening commercial ties.
FM Dar made the announcement during the launch of the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in Islamabad, describing it as a powerful symbol of the enduring Pakistan-China partnership and a new chapter in digital collaboration.
He said that the launch of the IBI headquarters marked a transformative milestone in the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Partnership.
Highlighting PM Shehbaz’s vision to establish Pakistan as a regional hub for digital innovation, he said that the Pakistan-China partnership was transitioning from physical infrastructure, such as the Karakoram Highway and CPEC energy projects, toward intelligent infrastructure, AI, ICT, and digital connectivity.
“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 said.
DPM Dar told the gathering that under CPEC 2.0, cooperation was expanding beyond traditional sectors into digital transformation, smart cities, and climate resilience.
Sharing optimistic economic indicators, including a fall in inflation, rising GDP and a dive in the policy interest, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to returning Pakistan to the roadmap of becoming a top-20 global economy.
With the world’s fifth-largest population and a rapidly growing youth demographic, the deputy prime minister emphasised that Pakistan was no longer “waiting for its moment” but had reached a stage of immense IT potential and global competitiveness.
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He welcomed Beijing United Information Technology (IBI) to Pakistan, noting that its platform — serving millions of enterprises across 100 industrial sectors in China — reflected strong international confidence in Pakistan’s economy.
DPM Dar also lauded the efforts of Pakistan’s Ambassador to Beijing Khalil Hashmi for professionally facilitating B2B forums, noting that 30% of the $10 billion in MOUs signed during recent visits to China had already been translated into finalised projects.
