Experts call for Pakistan to turn ‘Greater BRICS’ opportunities into exports and jobs

Source: The Nation | Original Published At: 2026-09-28 10:20:42 UTC

Key Points

• Chinese President Xi Jinping presented five initiatives at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi covering open-source and inclusive artificial intelligence, trade and investment facilitation, digital industries, intelligent manufacturing, and science and technology talent development.
• The proposed mechanisms include a BRICS AI open-source community, cooperation among special economic zones, a digital ecosystem cloud platform, support for smart factories, an engineer cultivation alliance, and a youth exchange programme for technological innovation.
• Experts say these initiatives could complement CPEC 2.0 by supporting technology transfer, industrial production, export diversification and workforce development in Pakistan.
• Although Pakistan is not a BRICS member, experts say its strategic partnership with China could allow Pakistani universities, technology companies, industrial institutions and special economic zones to engage with relevant cooperation mechanisms and Global South networks.
• Pakistan's exports to China reached $2.136 billion during the first seven months of 2026, representing year-on-year growth of 45.9%, while the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement provided additional market-access opportunities.
• Experts said market access alone would not be enough and that Pakistan needs predictable regulations, efficient customs procedures, reliable energy supplies, improved logistics, stronger investment protection and a more secure business environment to convert opportunities into sustained exports and jobs.