May 30, 2003	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27,1424

ISLAMABAD, May 29: Investment and Privatization Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said on Thursday the present government had eliminated the discrimination between local and foreign investors through provision of level-playing field.

The Board of Investment will extend all possible assistance to resolve the problems of investors, he said while talking to a delegation of Fatima Group of Companies led by its chairman Mian Fazal Mukhtar.

BoI chairman Waseem Haqqie, secretary Agha Ghazanfar, director general, Karachi, Arif Elahi, and other BoI officers were also present on the occasion.

The minister said a $110-million fertilizer plant being established by Fatima Group would not only create job opportunities, but would also help meet the country’s requirement of fertilizers.

He said the government had already announced the fertilizer policy and the issue of providing gas to fertilizer units would be taken up at the high level.

The delegation informed the minister that the fertilizer plant was being established near Bahawalnagar where a gas connection of 80 mmcfd was required next year.

The BoI chairman said the government was taking appropriate steps to resolve the problems of investors on priority basis.

The delegation appreciated the government’s investment policy and the steps it was taking to remove the hurdles in the way of investment.—APP