Made in China 2025 is a comprehensive techno-industrial policy toward revamping the Chinese manufacturing sector and fostering technological progress. This strategic initiative was taken to curtail China’s reliance on foreign technology imports, enhancing its self-dependence and global competitiveness. As Pakistan is economically challenged by high trade deficits, exacerbated by hefty technological imports and low value-added exports, it stands to gain a lot by learning from the Chinese model.

The persistent decline in Pakistan’s exports is a dominant factor contributing to its widening trade deficit. According to a World Bank report, over the past two decades, the export contribution to GDP has dwindled from 16 to 10 percent, trailing behind its regional counterparts like Bangladesh (27.72%), Vietnam (92.7%), and Malaysia(68.84%). The report further highlights that Pakistan’s poor performance is due to exporting conventional products with no value addition. Moreover, Pakistan does not have export potential in machinery, transport equipment, commodities, chemicals, and related products that are high revenue generators. Given Pakistan’s abundant resources, workforce, and strategic geographical positioning, it is imperative for Pakistan to indigenise its manufacturing technology for improved trade performance. For that, Pakistan could take lessons from its immediate neighbour, China.

As the Chinese economy surged in 2015, it expanded investments into ten pivotal sectors, including information........

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