Pakistan and China have agreed to establish a joint working group to explore cooperation in battery cell manufacturing and advanced energy technologies, signalling a potential step toward developing a domestic ecosystem for electric mobility and energy storage as demand for both sectors grow.
The decision emerged from high-level discussions between Pakistani officials and executives of CALB Group, one of China's major manufacturers of advanced lithium-ion battery systems, during a visit to the company's headquarters in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province.
The Pakistani delegation included Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Federal Secretary for Industries and Production Saif Anjum. The visit formed part of broader efforts to strengthen industrial and technological cooperation between Pakistan and China.
During the engagement, CALB officials briefed the delegation on the company's battery technology platforms, manufacturing capabilities, research and development activities, and international expansion plans in the field of advanced energy solutions.
Discussions centred on Pakistan's emerging opportunities in electric mobility, battery energy storage systems, industrial electrification and the development of a wider new-energy ecosystem. Officials examined how future collaboration could support Pakistan's industrial modernisation goals while responding to expected growth in demand for electric vehicles and energy storage technologies.
Both sides agreed to create a joint working group tasked with assessing commercial and technical opportunities related to battery cell manufacturing and associated technologies. According to the statement, the assessment will follow a phased and commercially driven approach, taking into account Pakistan's evolving market conditions, industrial objectives and projected future requirements.
The talks also covered possible areas of technical cooperation, knowledge sharing and localisation. Participants discussed pathways that could support domestic industrial development while encouraging broader collaboration in advanced energy technologies.
Officials further agreed to continue consultations through follow-up engagements. As part of those efforts, a future visit by CALB leadership to Pakistan is expected to be planned to explore potential areas of cooperation in greater detail.
The discussions come as Pakistan seeks to strengthen its industrial base and prepare for the gradual expansion of electric mobility and energy storage infrastructure. Battery technology is increasingly viewed as a critical component of future transport systems and modern energy networks, making international partnerships an important element of long-term planning.
CALB is among China's leading new-energy technology companies and supplies battery systems for electric vehicles, energy storage applications, smart mobility solutions and industrial energy projects. The company operates large-scale research, development and manufacturing facilities across China and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The agreement to establish a joint working group does not commit either side to specific investments, but it marks the beginning of a structured process to evaluate opportunities in a sector that is becoming increasingly important to industrial competitiveness, energy transition strategies and future economic development.