Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Syed Ibne Abbas said that the economy in Pakistan was undergoing a sustained growth and invited Scottish companies to invest in Pakistan.
He told them to take advantage of the liberal investment policies being pursued by the government of Pakistan.
The high commissioner also informed the Scottish leadership about plans to hold a Pakistan-UK Business forum in Scotland during summer in the current year.
He was on an official visit to Scotland where he met Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Alex Salmond, Scottish Minister for Europe and International Development Humza Yousaf and Member of Parliament Tasmina Sheikh, and members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) including Hanzala Malik, Johann Lamont, Anne McTaggart, Michael McMahon, Jim Eadie and Mary Fee.
A wide range of bilateral issues were discussed during the meeting, said a message received on Saturday. The high commissioner gave a briefing to a group of 10 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and Cross Party Group on Middle East on issues of mutual interest and possible cooperation.
He apprised the MSPs about the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the prospects it afforded to Pakistan and the region’s economy. The high commissioner informed the MSPs on the economic turnaround in Pakistan due to the business and investment-friendly policies of the government. He also briefed the Scottish leadership on the improved security situation in Pakistan and the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the national action plan.
On this occasion, it was agreed to renew the people-to-people, business and cultural contacts between Lahore-Glasgow Twin Cities (Twinning Agreement between Lahore and Glasgow was signed in 2006 with the aim to encourage and establish close relations between the two cities).
In this regard, it was also agreed to have a significant cultural representation from Pakistan at the Edinburgh Festival to mark the 70th Anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence in 2017. Minister Humza Yousaf and MP Tasmina Sheikh updated the high commissioner about the forthcoming renewed Pakistan plan of the Scottish government for bilateral partnership in trade, education and culture.