Pakistan an emerging market for foreign investment: PM

LAHORE- Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan is an emerging market rich with exciting opportunities for foreign investment in all sectors. Prime Minister was talking to a three members delegation of trade leaders led by President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Tariq Sayeed, President FPCCI Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh and founder Pak-US Business Council and Vice President, SAARC CCI, Pakistan chapter Iftikhar Ali Malik a couple of days back at a luncheon meeting at prime minister secretariat.
According to President FPCCI, Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said there is ample scope, coupled with significant opportunities for foreign private sector investment in Pakistan.
Premier observed that Pakistan is ideally located geographically with immediate access to the Central Asian Republics, and has a competitively affordable and expanding workforce of 36 million.
Pakistan’s foreign investment policy is open and liberal in South Asia, which is good news for foreign companies interested in doing business in Pakistan, he said.
Prime Minister suggested the delegation could help the foreign corporate sector identify opportunities in Pakistan’s vast resource based industries, such as oil, gas and petro chemicals,a fast growing infrastructure sector and other industries.He mentioned textiles, garments, software and automotive manufacture in this context.
Prime Minister said Pakistan is a country rich in history, culture and natural resources, adding, he was confident that foreign investment in Pakistan will reach a high point in the years to come.
Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh informed the Prime Minister that business community across the country was fully confident of the sagacious leadership of the elected coalition government led by Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Iftikhar Ali Malik, a veteran trade leader and co-chairman Businessman panel, the largest alliance of chambers in Pakistan, told the premier that it will require sustained and sound economic policies as well as effective action by the government to improve political stability and develop human resources. “In the present scenario, survival of any nation in the world now exclusively rests on better economy”.
Tariq Sayeed apprised the premier about the activities of the SCCI and its future plan to boost bilateral trade among the SAARC member countries.
Prime Minister assured the delegation that politically elected government will take all possible epoch making measures to strengthen the national economy and ensure better business friendly atmosphere, as well as investment oriented environment for local and foreign investment.
He assured that genuine problems faced by the business community will be solved on top priority and that the private sector will be fully encouraged to play its vital role for nation’s progress and prosperity.