–Prime Minister Imran Khan shares his govt’s environment-friendly policy
–Commerce secretary briefs dignitaries of Pakistan’s important trade sectors
ISLAMABAD: President Xi Jinping on Monday visited Pakistani pavilion titled “Emerging Pakistan” at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Chinese president was accompanied by other world leaders, including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who remained at the stall for some time and discussed the trade potential with Pakistani officials.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Imran Khan explained the new government’s environment-friendly policy and initiatives taken by the country in this regard.
He spoke of the one billion trees project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and also shared how the government planned to plant ten billion trees during the next five years.
Seconding the premier, Commerce Secretary Mohammad Younus Dagha said Pakistan has one of the smallest carbon footprints (sixth largest population with only 0.4 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions), still, it is playing an important role and making efforts to deal with climate change.
He also briefed the dignitaries about the theme of the pavilion, which represented five important trade sectors of Pakistan.
Dagha said that textiles and apparels employ 38 per cent of the industrial workforce with an 8.5 per cent share in GDP and make up for more than 70 per cent of Pakistan’s exports.
“The fastest growth has been in the garments sector that provides jobs to female workers,” he said and added that Pakistan has the privilege of not only having world-renowned sportspersons, but also has the distinction of competing in quality and winning the contracts for the supply of sports goods for top brands and prestigious events.
“The last two FIFA World Cups, including the one held in Russia this year, were played with Pakistan-made footballs,” Dagha said.
He added that with the marvelous archeological sites of the world’s oldest civilisation in the south and the meeting point of the three majestic mountain ranges known as “the roof of the world” in the north, the tourism sector in Pakistan also offers unlimited opportunities for hospitality sector investors.
“The new government is improving the policy framework to attract more investments in the manufacturing sector to increase our capacity to export.”
He also told the dignitaries that while Pakistan is exporting aromatic basmati rice, the most delicious mangoes and juiciest of mandarins to more than 70 countries; storage, processing and preservation are the areas where joint ventures can bring rapid gains.
President Xi took great interest in the briefing and appreciated PM Khan’s efforts to improve the environment. He also extended his country’s support for the initiative and congratulated the premier on his successful visit to China.
Organisers say more than 3,000 foreign companies from 130 countries including the United States (US) and Europe are present at the expo.
PM Imran Khan is on maiden visit to China on the invitation of Chinese leadership. He was the keynote speaker at the CIIE inaugural session earlier in the day.
Addressing the opening ceremony at the National Exhibition and Convention Center Shanghai, PM Khan said Pakistan was a leading exporter of sports goods, medical instruments and IT products.
He said with a promising 100 million human resource, under the age of 35, the country has a rich potential, and was an attractive place for foreign investors.
