Just to provide a quick link, this was posted recently in the Economy subforum.
Financial Times - China proposes $15bn Indus dam scheme in Pakistan
It is true, we don't give "direct aid" in the levels that the USA does to Pakistan. However, I think the Pakistanis will be happy that
we are investing in their country as a business strategy, and not being patronizing to them by using aid as a means of getting political concessions.
The "aid" strategy that the West has been using towards developing countries, has led to mixed results in Africa and the Middle East. Whether or not their strategy works, is up to your interpretation. But China's strategy is to "invest" in developing countries, rather than to supply aid.
China is not yet rich enough to just give out aid to whoever asks for it, so we invest.