Acting President Nayyar Bokhari, Wednesday, said that people of Pakistan had highest regards for Saudi Arabia for being supportive to Pakistan particularly in testing times.
He was expressing these views in meeting Minister for Commerce and Industry for Saudi Arabia Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabeea and his delegation for participation in the ninth Session of Pakistan-Saudi Joint Ministerial Commission at Parliament House here on Wednesday. The Acting President appreciated visit of Saudi Commerce Minister despite the tragedy of his son’s death recently. Bokhari said that his visit under such circumstances strongly reflected the goodwill and love which the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia have for Pakistan.
The Acting President extended his thanks for a grant of $ 100 million for the welfare of people of Pakistan announced immediately after visit of the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia in July this year.
He told the delegation that Pakistani were appreciative of the all out support extended to them during 2005 earthquake and 2010-11 floods in Pakistan. He told the Saudi delegation that Pakistan was facing flood situation in areas of Sindh and Balochistan and certain areas of Punjab this year as well. The Acting President said that the meeting of Joint Ministerial Commission will definitely produce good results for benefits of the two sides and strengthen our trade and commerce relations.
Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Saudi Arabia had grown manifold and will get a further boost with an early conclusion of Pak-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement as it will give Pakistan enhanced market access in Middle East. He told that Pakistan can export its excess wheat and fine quality rice and other products to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries.
The Acting President appreciated the regular and substantial inflows of direct investment from Saudi Arabia and reassured that Pakistanis would continue to provide enabling environment for Saudi investment in Pakistan.
Bokhari told the delegates that there were ample opportunities of investment especially in the fields of energy, oil exploration, housing and construction, agro-food, telecommunication, infrastructure, textile, power, automotives and spare parts.
