Pakistan and China's BGI Group, a world leader in biotechnology and diagnostics, established a genomic partnership in April 2025. The National Institutes of Health and Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services are spearheading the effort, which intends to increase the country's proficiency in precision medicine, rare disease diagnosis, and genetic testing.
A national gene bank will be established, a technical delegation will visit BGI's research facilities, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will formalise the agreement, according to the official release. Rare genetic illnesses, thalassaemia, cancer, and reproductive health are among the strategic focus areas.
Health Systems as Economic Drivers
The World Health Organisation claims that by fostering innovation, infrastructure expansion, job creation, and procurement, health systems support economic development. Spending on health care is an investment that boosts the economy as a whole, not just an expense. Demand for health services is created over a broad value chain, encompassing IT, logistics, construction, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment. Furthermore, by lowering absences due to illness and allowing people to engage more in the economy, advanced health systems boost worker productivity.
The ROI of Health: Global Evidence
According to a McKinsey Global Institute report, premature deaths and lost productivity are the primary causes of the 15% annual global GDP reduction caused by poor health. According to the report, by 2040, improved health outcomes may increase global GDP by $12 trillion, or 0.4 percentage points, and accelerate yearly economic growth.
Investments in health care lower absenteeism, boost labour force participation, and allow for longer working lives, all of which are especially important for Pakistan's youthful and expanding population.
Job Creation Through Health Investment
According to the World Bank, the creation of a single job in healthcare generates an average of 3.4 more jobs in supporting sectors such as digital health, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. This indicates that investments in health go far beyond returns from hospitals and reverberate throughout the economy.
The partnership between Pakistan and BGI Group directly leverages this multiplier effect. By focusing on genomics, which sits at the confluence of medicine, science, and technology, this partnership helps foster the development of an entirely new biotech ecosystem, which includes future research laboratories, testing and diagnostic centres, and skilled R&D positions.
This is exactly the kind of infrastructure that makes a country more investable. It signals to global investors that Pakistan is no longer just a services-driven economy—it’s building the capacity to generate and export high-value scientific and technological innovations. In short, this is a strategic leap that opens the door to long-term, innovation-led investment.
Gender Inclusion and Skilled Workforce Development
Women comprise over 70% of the total health workforce, but only account for 25% of the most senior roles as per the World Bank. This points out the need for targeted expenditures in health, especially in precision fields such as genomics and diagnostics, where high-skilled STEM positions and new opportunities for women are offered.
These expenditures not only contribute towards closing the gender gap but serve an even greater purpose. The World Bank points out that advanced planning, investing in a skilled and healthy workforce alongside reliable infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, generates a wide range of new jobs, shared prosperity, and enhanced societal welfare. With almost every dollar invested in health yielding up to $23 through improved economic outcomes, productivity, and social cohesion, the development of an inclusive workforce is a prerequisite in both compassionate and financial terms.
In addition, investments in the health sector also address youth unemployment by establishing considerable job opportunities and encouraging workforce mobility. In low-income countries, women and young workers can be offered specialised training and skill-building to improve their economic participation through AI-enhanced caregiving and collaboration with the private sector.
Pakistan’s Strategic Opportunity
The partnership between Pakistan and BGI is not merely a public health endeavour. It forms part of a comprehensive investment in the country’s economic diversification and innovation systems for sustainable work opportunities. As demonstrated by global institutions, investments in health also result in increased productivity, equity, and GDP growth over time.
