For several years China had been trying to develop an alternative to the T-72. This tank was called Type 85 and was designed specifically to meet Pakistani Army requirements. In 1989 NORINCO publicly announced this. In 1992 a range of prototypes were shown in Pakistan, and plans were underway to develop it locally under the name Khalid. Whether this decision was related to a cancelation of the Khalid project, or whether the T-72Mls was intended to provide a stoppage until the Khalid is available in sufficient numbers was not clear.