October 8, 2003	Wednesday	Sha’aban 11, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: Former US Centcom chief, General Anthony Zinni, is arriving here on Oct 24 in his capacity as a director of a multinational company which wants to invest in Pakistan’s telecommunication industry.

A Pakistani-American who is a partner in Gen Zinni’s company, claims that the initial investment will be between $120 million to $150 million that might expand to $5 billion over a period of 10 years.

Talking to Dawn he said Gen Zinnie would stay here for two days. He said the general, who is special envoy of President Bush on the Middle East, would meet Pakistani high-ups but his schedule was still being worked out.

Asad Kazmi, the Pakistani American who represents the company in Pakistan, said the general was coming here “on the call of the people and the government of Pakistan.” President Musharraf, he said, in his visits to the US had urged the Pakistani community to invest in Pakistan. “And here I am,” he told Dawn . “I have brought a major American company with Gen Zinni as its director to come and invest in Pakistan.”

According to Mr Kazmi the major area of their interest is wireless local loop, long distance international, PTCL privatization, particularly GSM cellular license. He said his company is also exploring avenues in energy sector.

He claimed that the company he is representing was telecommunications giant with branches in 42 countries. This will be major investment venture in Pakistan after the controversial IPPs and, more specifically, 9/11.

Mr Kazmi said the general’s visit was purely business and not political. But the general has great love for Pakistan and has always supported it. He has also expressed his “fondness for Pakistan” in his correspondence with Pakistani concerns here. Company chairman Eric Ram has already visited Pakistan and interacted with several official and private concerns.

Mr Kazmi said one of the reasons for the investment is that “we want to dispel this impression that Pakistan has a security problem and does not have an investment-conducive environment.” The fact that the person of general Zinni’s standing, he said, was coming here to invest proved that Pakistan offered lot of potential.

“Believe me, Pakistan is one of the most underestimated places for investment,” he said, adding, “ this has been the primary reason that he has been able to convince his American counterparts.”

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