January 23, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 19, 1423

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DUBAI, Jan 22: Industries and Production Minister Liaqat Ali Jatoi on Tuesday assured the expatriate Pakistanis that the government will set up special desks at all the international airports for gold and silver card holders who have shown confidence in the country’s economy.

Speaking to Pakistanis here, he urged the business community to avail the opportunities of a buoyant economy and a good investment climate and promised to remove all hurdles in the way of setting up industries.

Liaqat Jatoi’s visit is considered a prelude to Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali’s tour to the region expected in February. A spokesman for the embassy in Abu Dhabi told Dawn that dates and program of the tour had not been finalized yet, but newspaper reports suggested he would have a tour of the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states in the first week of February.

The minister, who was carrying a message from the prime minister for the rulers in Dubai, had many meeting planned with the authorities to discuss trade relations.

Consul-General Amanullah Larik said on Wednesday that Jatoi had met the ministers of labour and industries as well as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the crown prince and the UAE defence minister.

The minister said one-window operation for investors would be introduced to accelerate the process to set up industries.

“We are out now with a new vision,” Liaqat Jatoi was quoted by a Dubai newspaper. “Investment today is safe and guaranteed; procedural hiccups to set up industrial units have been removed and more incentives are being offered to investors. We are already working on the rationalization of tariffs to facilitate investors and imports.”