25 January 2004	Sunday	02 Zilhaj 1424

LONDON, Jan 24: The country's high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, said on Friday that overseas Pakistanis here were playing a very important role in strengthening relations between London and Islamabad , which were stronger than before.

She said at the annual dinner of the UK-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the growing relations between the two countries were reflected by a series of visits from London to Islamabad and many more visits were in the offing,

She said a number of British ministers were expected to visit Islamabad soon.

She said the credit for improving the relations went to Pakistanis living here. She appreciated expatriate Pakistanis' role in promoting their country's commercial relations with Britain.

Emphasizing the need for endeavours to strengthen relations between the two countries, she said the UK was the biggest foreign investor an a leading trading partner of Pakistan.

She said Pakistan had achieved five per cent growth rate, its credit rating and exports had risen, budget deficit had been brought down and the Karachi Stock Exchange had been described by observers as one of the best performing markets.

She expressed the hope that in a conducive investment environment, the private sector would be able to achieve economic development for the country.

She said the priority of the government was to ensure sustenance of democratic transition because it was necessary to realize the goal of economic prosperity through poverty alleviation and distributive justice.

She said decision by Pakistan and India to have a composite dialogue signified hope and optimism.

She said Islamabad welcomed the successful outcome of the Loya Jirga in Afghanistan.

The chamber's chairman, Ikram Khan, said Pakistanis here supported dialogue with India as it was necessary for economic development of the region.-APP