December 29, 2001	Saturday	Shawwal 13, 1422

ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: President General Pervez Musharraf has asked the investors and business community to take full advantage of the prevailing situation and the most conducive environment for investment in Pakistan since many years.

“We have provide you the facilities, right environment and support of international community, now it is up to you to take advantage of the situation,” the President said on Saturday while chairing the 9th meeting of Economic Advisory Board.

Ministers for Finance, Commerce, Communication, Science and Technology, Governor State Bank of Pakistan and the representatives of the business community in Pakistan attended the meeting.

“You have now to take initiatives for investment which would certainly be a encouraging signal to the foreign investors and they would also invest here, “ Gen Musharraf said.

Your investment, the president said would create new job opportunities and also boost the production and exports as well. “The European Union’s incentive for Pakistani exporters could bear fruit only when you will take steps in the right direction.”

He said Pakistan could earn one billion dollars if we succeed in properly exploring the textile market in Europe as the EU has already enhanced our quota by 15 per cent and reduced the import duty on our products.

The president told the businessmen that Gwadar Port and Coastal High way would be functional in the next 36 months and you should start planning now where you are going to establish industry in that area.

He also assured the private sector that the irritants, which do exist at the federal and provincial levels, will be addressed and even better environment for investment will be created in the country.

President Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries Iftikhar Malik said that the whole business community in Pakistan fully supports the policies of the government and the decision taken by the president on Afghanistan and in relation to India.

He said he is going to Katmandu to attend the SAARC conference where he would meet the Presidents of the Chambers of all the SAARC countries. “We will work as pressure group so that India should de-escalate the tension. If India would not pay heed to our demands we would also not accept Most Favoured Nation status for India.”—APP