Pakistan and China took a major step toward deepening scientific collaboration on Thursday afternoon as the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), a leading Chinese state-owned technology conglomerate. The partnership aims to advance joint research, innovation, and capacity building in emerging and frontier technologies, particularly in quantum computing.
The MoU was inked during a high-level meeting between Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and the visiting CETC delegation in Islamabad. The agreement marks the beginning of structured cooperation between CETC and Pakistan’s Emerging Technologies Lab, a Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP)-funded initiative of the Ministry of Planning.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ahsan Iqbal said China’s collaboration would play a vital role in setting up Pakistan’s first National Center for Quantum Computing, calling it a “transformative step toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” He said the partnership would foster knowledge exchange, research synergies, and the development of advanced human capital in high-technology domains.
“Quantum technology represents the future. Our cooperation with China in this domain will be a game changer for Pakistan’s scientific and economic development,” Iqbal emphasized.
The minister outlined the government’s vision under the ‘Uraan Pakistan (Flight Pakistan)’ initiative, which aims to integrate advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing into national development frameworks. “Investment in these frontier technologies is essential for Pakistan to join the ranks of developed nations,” he added.
Iqbal also announced the government’s plan to launch the Quantum Valley Project, envisioned as Pakistan’s own Silicon Valley, a hub for innovation, technology startups, and research-driven industrial growth.
He lauded China’s success in digital transformation and said Pakistan’s partnership with CETC symbolizes a broader technological dimension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase-II, which focuses on industrial modernization, digitalization, and human resource development.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral scientific cooperation, expanding academic linkages, and promoting innovation-driven development that aligns with Pakistan’s Vision 2025 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
