Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has made a strong case for investment opportunities in Pakistan at a gathering of the prominent corporate leaders and senior executives representing various equity and investment companies based in New York.
Among those present at the event, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Thursday, were senior executives from Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Alliance Bernstein, JP Moran, Prudential, US-PBC, Storm Harbor Capital, Boeing and PepsiCo.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said Pakistan had one of the most liberal and attractive investment regimes in the developing world with no restrictions on the share and equity ratio held by the foreign companies. Similarly, the liberal foreign exchange regime in the country offered foreign investors the right to exchange the local currency into any other foreign currency and allowed the repatriation of profits, dividends and funds without any hindrance.
Nawaz Sharif stressed that the globally recognized important elements for economic growth such as increased urbanization, favourable demographics and growing middle class were all combined in the emerging market of Pakistan. He added that a number of multinational corporations were already making record profits in Pakistan and vast opportunities existed for the potential investors to reap the benefits of a business friendly-environment in the country.
The prime minister emphasized that in addition to the innovative and skilled manpower endowed with great entrepreneurial ability, Pakistan was gifted with its unique geography, providing proximity to the world’s largest markets and economic power houses. Such unique combination of conducive and business-friendly elements makes Pakistan as the most profitable market to invest in.
The prime minister assured the participants that his government was making concerted efforts to overcome the energy shortfalls and improve the security environment so that business ventures could flourish and expand to their full potential.
The participants at the event evinced keen interest to explore the opportunities for business and investment in Pakistan. They appreciated the expanding middle class and the potential demographic dividend as great incentives to invest in Pakistan.
