Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Pakistan’s corporate friendly environment makes it an attractive destination for investment and invited the Sri Lankan businessmen to explore the opportunities particularly in energy and infrastructure sectors.
The prime minister who is in Sri Lanka’s on an official visit met the Sri Lanka’s industry heads, top executives and media moguls and discussed with them the prospects of investment in each other’s countries.
Prime Minister Sharif said that Pakistan had embarked upon the journey to prosperity after his government took solid steps for strengthening the economy and ensuring peace in the country.
He said that since assuming office in 2013, he had laid special emphasis on addressing the economic issues and terrorism. He mentioned the increase in the country’s GDP growth from 3 to 4.6 per cent, which he said was expected to touch 5 per cent by the end of this fiscal year.
Sharif said Pakistan would soon become a strategic hub of economic activity and invited the Sri Lankan businessmen to visit Pakistan and explore the possibilities of doing business.
He mentioned that leading international publications, fund managers and rating agencies including Bloomberg and Moody’s had given positive assessments about Pakistan’s economy.
Sharif highlighted the focus of his government on regional and international connectivity and mentioned the recently launched China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which includes a multiple development projects worth $46 billion.
He said that Pakistan would soon turn into a strategic gateway of economy in the region.
The prime minister said that Pakistan was also promoting other regional energy and connectivity projects including the Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, Central Asia South Asia (CASA 1000) project, and the Torkham-Jalalabad road project in Afghanistan.
Sharif said that his government was keen to overcome energy shortage and was setting up feasible power plants to cater to the electricity needs for the next 15-20 years. He urged upon the Sri Lankan investors to tap this potential and to also consider setting up coal-based power plants.
The prime minister said that Pakistan wanted strong relations with Sri Lanka and added that in addition to the existing close political ties, there was a need to deepen the trade links as well.
He said that since 1990 when he became prime minister for the first time, he had special regard for maintaining long-term and close relations with Sri Lanka.
The prime minister said that SAARC was an important regional hub and its member states should closely collaborate with each other for the benefit of their peoples.
He welcomed the proposal of Sri Lanka’s mediatory role if played for bringing the SAARC member states closer.
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan said that the government of Pakistan would facilitate the Sri Lankan businessmen who wanted to invest in Pakistan’s various sectors.
The Sri Lankan businessmen who had recently visited Pakistan spoke favorably of the country’s environment for potential investors and talked about the improvement in economic conditions and security over last two years.
The SAARC Chambers of Commerce vice chairman, Board of Investment Sri Lanka chairman, Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Council chairman, corporate leaders and media heads attended the meeting.
Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, National Security Advisor Lt General (r) Nasir Khan Janjua and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Major General (r) Syed Shakil Hussain were also present.
