KARACHI, April 17: Federal Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan has called upon multinational companies to assist the government efforts in the provision of basic necessities to the poor , including clean drinking water and health facilities.

He was addressing the members of American Business Council (ABC) on Friday evening. The minister observed that very little public service oriented projects were floated by foreign companies, who were reaping profits from this land.

Appreciating the contribution of ABC members towards national exchequer, Nasir Khan said that direct public oriented programmes were needed that could be seen and appreciated by public.

Talking of some concerns of pharmaceutical manufacturers of the ABC regarding pricing and registration process, he said that the health ministry was cognizant of these little botherations.

Mr Khan said that the government was willing to work with the business community and investors to create atmosphere of safe, secure and profitable investment.

"I assure you that the government is doing all it can to provide you an investment-friendly atmosphere. We want to see a healthy competitive business environment with level playing field for all," he said.

The minister invited pharmaceutical manufacturers to establish a "laboratory of excellence" in Pakistan to test and analyse their products, where necessary, as well as act as research and development locus in basic research especially on medicines.

He also invited concrete and practical proposals from ABC members for the solution of problems being faced by them.

Earlier, American Business Council President Anjum Fasih, in his welcome address, invited the minister's attention towards the issues of pricing and registration.

He said that the ABC contributed Rs34.5 billion towards national exchequer that was close to nine per cent of the total tax collection during the last year. -APP