October 19, 2002	Saturday	Sha'aban 12, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday that his country wanted to strengthen trade and economic relations with Pakistan.

“I have brought with me members of some Malaysian companies who are interested in working with Pakistani companies dealing with information technology and others,” Dr Mahathir, who arrived here on a two-day visit to Pakistan, said.

Addressing a gathering, he said Malaysia was very keen in strengthening economic ties with Pakistan and suggested that Pakistani companies must meet their (Malaysian) counterparts to promote investment.

Dr Mahathir lauded the economic turn-around that had taken place in Pakistan after three years of hardwork. “Pakistan is now seen as an economically stable country with lot of potential to attract foreign investment.” He said foreign investors looked for a stable government and consistency of policy. To sustain economic turn-around, he added, Pakistan must continue with stable and consistent policies.

Giving his own country’s experience, Dr Mahathir said that Malaysia was an agricultural country with very limited capital and industrial base. The Malaysian authorities, he said, invited foreign investors and continued to pursue consistent and transparent policies. Private sector was treated as engine of growth and was given prominent role in the economic development of Malaysia, he added.

Earlier, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz briefed Dr Mahathir about the economic achievements of the government.