March 3, 2006	Friday	Safar 2, 1427

ISLAMABAD, March 2: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday invited Malaysian investors for investment, especially in petroleum, agro industry, real estate, construction and tourism sectors.

The prime minister was talking to former Malaysian finance minister Dato Sri Tun Daim Zainuddin, who was leading a delegation of investors to Pakistan.

“Pakistan will welcome Malaysian investment in all sectors,” Mr Aziz said, adding that Pakistan was keen to enhance the level of bilateral cooperation in trade with particular reference to information technology and the services sector.

Pakistan, he said, provided a level-playing field and made no distinction between local and foreign investors. He appreciated the steps taken by the Malaysian government for early finalization of the free trade agreement (FTA), which he said, would provide an institutional framework to increase bilateral trade between the two countries.

Pakistan, he said, had become an attractive investment hub in view of its rapidly growing middle class and in terms of ease of doing business in the country.

Mr Zainuddin informed the prime minister that he had no doubt that the growing cooperation between the two governments and private sectors would be further expanded to the mutual benefit of both the countries.

He gave a personal donation of one million Malaysian dollars for the president’s earthquake relief fund.