Quetta: Traders and farming communities in Balochistan have hailed the upcoming Pakistan-China Agricultural Investment Conference as a game-changer for the province’s economy.
At a consultative meeting held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta, stakeholders emphasized that Chinese collaboration could bridge the gap between Balochistan’s vast agricultural potential and international export markets.
The meeting, chaired by Provincial Secretary for Agriculture Noor Ahmed Pirkani, briefed participants on the high-profile conference scheduled for January 19, 2026, in Islamabad. The event follows the successful B2B investment summit held in Beijing in September 2025.
Officials confirmed that the Islamabad conference will host 300 delegates-150 Chinese and 150 Pakistani business leaders. The Balochistan Agriculture Department will facilitate matchmaking between local landowners, traders, and Chinese investors interested in joint ventures.
Traders and farmers in Balochistan have welcomed the Pakistan-China Agricultural Investment Conference, expressing optimism that cooperation with Chinese investors can help modernize the province’s agriculture sector and unlock its vast production potential.
They said Chinese investment would not only introduce modern agricultural practices but also enable local farmers and growers to gain access to international markets.
An important meeting of traders and farmers was held on Wednesday at the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the auspices of the Balochistan Agriculture Department.
The meeting was attended by Provincial Secretary Agriculture Noor Ahmed Pirkani, Director General Agriculture Research Masood Ahmed Baloch, Project Director Green Pakistan Initiative Muhammad Asif Kakar, Director General Extension Juma Khan Tareen, Deputy Secretary Agriculture Mirza Ehteshamullah, Dr. Qasim Kakar, and representatives of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry including Juma Khan Badezai and Salahuddin Khilji.
Representatives of the Small Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haji Wali Noorzehi and Syed Abdul Khaliq Agha, members of the Zamindar Action Committee including Kazim Khan Achakzai, Syed Siddiqullah Agha, Naseebullah Kakar, and others were also present.
During the meeting, Provincial Secretary Agriculture Noor Ahmed Pirkani, Project Director Green Pakistan Initiative Muhammad Asif Kakar, and Dr. Qasim Kakar gave a detailed briefing on the Pakistan-China Agricultural Investment Conference scheduled to be held in Islamabad on January 19, 2026.
They informed participants that the conference is a continuation of the successful Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference held in Beijing in September 2025, which opened new avenues for bilateral economic cooperation.
The speakers highlighted that the upcoming conference is expected to have a positive impact on Pakistan’s agricultural production and exports, particularly benefiting Balochistan.
The Balochistan Agriculture Department will act as a bridge between local farmers, traders, and Chinese investors by facilitating investment proposals and partnerships.
Participants were informed that the conference will focus on a wide range of key sub-sectors, including agricultural chemicals and inputs, modern agricultural technologies and agri-tech solutions, food processing and value addition, meat and poultry industry, dairy inputs and processed dairy products, fruit and vegetable cultivation, packaging, processing and exports, animal feed, fisheries and aquaculture, cold chain systems, agricultural logistics, and food-grade packaging materials and equipment.
Business entities from the agriculture and food sectors, along with research institutions, universities, industrial organizations, and relevant public and private sector bodies, have also been invited to participate.
Speaking on the occasion, traders and farmers said that the Zamindar Action Committee has previously worked on similar initiatives, and such investment-driven projects represent positive progress for increasing agricultural output.
They emphasized that providing a secure and investor-friendly environment for Chinese investors is the need of the hour and described the conference as a valuable opportunity to strengthen the agricultural value chain.
They noted that while Balochistan has significant agricultural production, the development of a comprehensive value chain is essential to achieve export-quality standards.
The participants further stated that providing Chinese investors access to industrial zones along with complete security would significantly boost investment in the province.
Highlighting the province’s agricultural potential, traders pointed out that Balochistan produces approximately 1.2 million tons of apples, 600,000 tons of grapes, and 400,000 tons of tomatoes annually.
However, they stressed that accurate agricultural data and its organization on modern lines are crucial for effective planning, investment, and sustainable growth of the sector.