KARACHI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Khalil Hashmi on Tuesday stressed that Pakistan must strengthen economic diplomacy, industrialization, innovation, and regional connectivity to fully unlock its economic potential and maximize the benefits of growing Pakistan-China cooperation.
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He expressed these views while addressing a luncheon hosted for Karachi’s business community by the Foreign Affairs Liaison Office under the leadership of Director General Mohammed Irfan Soomro. The event brought together prominent business leaders, exporters, industrialists, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders from the agriculture, fisheries, logistics, manufacturing, and technology sectors.
Speaking at the gathering, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said the global landscape was rapidly transforming, where economic power, innovation, advanced technology, supply chains, and connectivity had become the defining instruments of international influence and development.
He praised China for successfully emerging as one of the world’s leading economic powers through strategic planning, institutional discipline, investment in human capital, and technological advancement, calling China “a land of opportunities.”
Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the ambassador described CPEC as a project of “destiny, opportunity, and regional transformation.” He emphasized that the initiative must now evolve beyond roads and energy projects toward industrialization, technology transfer, innovation, agricultural modernization, and stronger business-to-business connectivity.
Ambassador Hashmi said Pakistan should learn from China’s development model by focusing on industrial clustering, export competitiveness, digital infrastructure, smart logistics, digital payments, and innovation-driven economic growth.
He stressed that Pakistan’s economy must transition from raw agricultural exports to value-added agri-processing, from traditional seafood exports to modern fisheries systems, and from conventional textile production to high-value technical textiles and innovation-based industries.
Highlighting the significance of Karachi, he described the metropolis as Pakistan’s economic heartbeat and a strategic gateway linking South Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, and Africa through trade, logistics, and financial connectivity.
The ambassador further stated that modern diplomacy could no longer remain confined to political engagement alone, adding that diplomats must actively facilitate trade, technology partnerships, investment opportunities, and economic collaboration.
Discussing the future direction of CPEC, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said the next phase should prioritize markets, digital economies, startups, SMEs, innovation, and human capital development, particularly empowering Pakistan’s youth to emerge as entrepreneurs and future business leaders.
He warned that nations failing to innovate in the emerging global economic order risk becoming irrelevant, stressing that economic diplomacy must become Pakistan’s national doctrine.
Reaffirming the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China, the ambassador expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would continue expanding through enhanced trade, joint ventures, research collaboration, smart logistics, and shared prosperity.
Concluding his address, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi urged the business community to “think bigger, plan longer, and act faster” for Pakistan’s economic transformation while reiterating the slogan, “Pakistan-China friendship forever.”
During the session, he also answered questions from business leaders regarding trade, investment, and future cooperation opportunities between Pakistan and China.
Earlier, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Karachi, Yang Yundong, and DG Foreign Affairs Liaison Office Mohammed Irfan Soomro also addressed the participants.
