Francis Campbell, the Deputy British High Commissioner and Director for UK Trade and Investment (UKTA) said UK is serious to increase bilateral ties with Pakistan and clearly issued stance to investors to invest in Pakistan. “UKL stance is very clear to its inventors about trade and investment in Pakistan and suggested them to invest in Pakistan’, he said responding to a question about the US threat to Iran and positive development on Iran-Pakistan gas Pipelines project. He said European Union (EU) had imposed sanctions on Iran and it was clear to every one but there was no issue to invest in Pakistan. He said Pakistan has 185 million people vibrant and resilient market. “UK is keen to invest in Pakistan so thus I am here to talk with Business Forum Punjab (BFP) representatives”, he added.
Francis said that UK supported Pakistan’s demand of market access in EU Brussels, and will also support in future too. He said in 2011 both Pakistani and UK prime ministers wooed to increase the bilateral trade to increase 2.5 billion pound sterling till 2015 and last year it was increased by 16 per cent. He hoped that if the present pace will continue then it would achieve the target. He said that one of the biggest retail store has been opening its store next month in Karachi and UK investors keen to come to Lahore as well. He said negative perception about Pakistan was hurting investment. He said with the change in perception more foreign investment will pour in to Pakistan. He said that joint working of UK and Pakistan will attract investment in Pakistan. He congratulated the GFP team for establishing a forum of businesses. “I will assure that as UK government representative I will do my best to create business to business linkages, when businesses talks role of government reduce’, he said.
