The Guangzhou International Cooperation Center (GICC) and the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) have signed a strategic partnership memorandum aimed at establishing a long-term cooperation mechanism between Islamabad's chamber and real estate association and enterprises in Guangzhou, paving the way for pilot projects in construction, building materials and smart home industries in Pakistan.

The agreement was signed at the Guangzhou-Islamabad Construction Industry Precision Matchmaking Meeting held at the Guangzhou International Cooperation Center (GICC) recently, bringing together around 30 representatives from China and Pakistan’s construction-related sectors to explore cooperation across the full industrial chain, from project development to supply and investment, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Monday.

Against the backdrop of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the broader Belt and Road Initiative, demand in Pakistan for real estate development, smart housing and high-quality interior building materials has continued to rise.

Guangzhou, a major manufacturing hub in southern China, has developed mature industrial chains in prefabricated apartment construction, green building materials, smart home technologies and integrated furnishing solutions, making its products well suited to Pakistan’s market needs.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Sadar Tahir Mehmood, who also serves as president of the Islamabad Real Estate Association. The delegation included business representatives involved in real estate development, building materials procurement and investment.

Chinese participants included companies from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area specializing in construction materials, smart homes, apartment solutions, security systems, home appliances, property management and engineering services.

Representatives from talent exchange institutions also attended.

In his remarks, Mehmood said Pakistan’s construction sector is in a rapid growth phase and has strong demand for quality building materials, smart home systems and engineering support services, welcoming Chinese companies to explore opportunities in the country.

The Pakistani delegation expressed strong interest in the presentations. Both sides reached preliminary cooperation intentions regarding procurement for a smart apartment project involving more than 300 residential units, led by Mehmood.

The newly signed memorandum is expected to create a regularized platform for targeted matchmaking between Chinese and Pakistani construction enterprises, with a focus on facilitating project implementation, business information exchange and investment promotion.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China