December 19, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 14, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: The Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said that the government is working towards creating a favourable investment environment in Pakistan. He was addressing the members of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Wednesday.

The minister was visiting the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry to know the problems faced by the business people.

The minister said that a lot of work needs to be done to improve the overall industrial and production scenario of the country. He expressed his wonder that given the rich natural resources, the wide range of environment and the availability of capable work force, Pakistan has not evolved as a great developed country.

He observed that good policies were formulated in the past, but they were not acted upon religiously. So the trickle down effect of these policies never reached the bottom. Also the procedures and rules were never revised for the betterment of the people. He said that the procedures formulated in 1940, which have not been restructured till date need to be rewritten. These procedures should be amended to facilitate the people, not to hinder them.

He said that he has directed his ministry to remove all functional hindrance and delays in the system and the procedures are in the process of modernization.