BREAKING NEWS (PM Shehbaz Launches $100 Million China-Backed Special Economic Zone [SEZ] to Boost Exports):
ISLAMABAD, August 15, 2025 — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday performed the groundbreaking of a China-backed Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a landmark project that promises industrial growth, technology transfer, and enhanced China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) cooperation.
The $100 million investment, spread over five years, will be led by Challenge Fashion Private Limited, a prominent Chinese garment manufacturer that has already invested $17 million in Pakistan since 2014.
Before the ceremony, PM Shehbaz met with the company’s delegation, headed by Chairman Huwang Weiguo, and welcomed the SEZ’s potential to create jobs, boost exports, and strengthen bilateral economic ties. The project is expected to generate $400 million in exports while supporting skill development and sustainable industrial growth.
The prime minister directed authorities to provide all possible facilities to the Challenge Group, reaffirming his government’s commitment to industrial expansion under CPEC and leveraging China’s expertise in the textile sector.
Calling the Pakistan-China friendship “time-tested,” PM Shehbaz expressed his desire to elevate cooperation to “new heights.” He also encouraged more Chinese companies to set up operations in Pakistan, praising Challenge Fashion Group for its confidence in the local market.
The premier announced that a China-Pakistan Business-to-Business Conference would soon be held in China to encourage collaboration between private sectors of both nations.
Chairman Huwang Weiguo thanked the prime minister for Pakistan’s warm hospitality and reaffirmed his company’s dedication to developing a modern textile industry in the SEZ. The firm’s investment is aimed at transforming Pakistan into a competitive hub for textile exports, aligning with global market needs.
Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Jam Kamal, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervez Malik, Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari, Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi, and senior officials attended the meeting, signalling strong government backing for the initiative.
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