Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a directive that 50 percent of all public sector cargo transported by sea must route through Gwadar Port, marking a significant shift in the nation’s logistics and maritime policy.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the directive came during a key review meeting in Islamabad today focused on Chinese investments in Pakistan. The Prime Minister received a comprehensive update on the recent visit by a Chinese expert delegation to Pakistan, which took place from the end of last month to early this month. This delegation engaged with various Pakistani ministries to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, energy, agriculture, IT, communication, and infrastructure.

Significant strides were reported in these sectors during the delegation’s visit, including plans to utilize Chinese expertise to boost domestic exports and overcome non-trade barriers. Additionally, sectoral roadshows are planned in various Chinese cities to promote Pakistani products.

Further enhancing the bilateral cooperation, there is growing interest among Chinese companies in relocating industries to Pakistan. In the realm of agriculture, 572 Pakistani students and research scholars have applied for training in China, with the Prime Minister instructing that students from all provinces be given equal opportunities to participate in this program.