29 January 2004	Thursday	06 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Ch. Nouraiz Shakoor said on Wednesday that incentives and facilities being offered to local and foreign investors in petroleum sector are not less than any other country of the world.

All possible measures would be adopted to make these incentives more attractive so that the economy could be strengthened, he told reporters here. Pakistan, he said, in collaboration with French company 'Total' and its consortium has invested $25 million for oil and gas exploration in Indus delta.

Oil and gas exploration activities going on in off-shore areas are showing positive results, he added. The minister said at present 25 companies were engaged in oil and gas exploration and production activities.

Nouraiz Shakoor said like in the past three years, foreign investment has been encouraging in this vital sector this year owing to continuity of policies introduced by President General Pervez Musharraf.-APP