April 9, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1427

KARACHI, April 8: Balochistan Economic Forum president Sardar Shoukat Popalzai has said that Qatar can help Pakistan to finance its $3 billion plan for importing and building a supply chain of LNG to meet the fast approaching shortfall.

He stated this while talking to Qatar International Islamic Bank chairman Ali Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al Thani in Doha on March 30, says a press release.

“Balochistan is an ideal destination for investment especially from the Islamic countries,” he said and added that its large coastal area was expected to be developed as energy corridor of the region.

He said that trade between the two countries was increasing gradually and Pakistan was expecting to import gas from Qatar through pipeline.

Ali Bin Abdullah said that his bank would be soon launching an Islamic Insurance Company in Pakistan and the bank was planning to expand its operations. He said Qatari government had started investing abroad in the energy sector.