December 17, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 25, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said that the country would attract a record inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) during this fiscal year due to investor-friendly policies of the government.

Talking to George Soros, a renowned global financier, at Prime Minister House, the premier said that Pakistan had become an attractive destination for foreign investment because of the availability of skilled manpower and comparatively low cost of production and a level-playing field to both foreign and local investors.

He said that the country had vast potential in housing and real estate, electricity production and distribution, oil and gas development, IT and telecom, agribusiness including dairy development, petrochemicals and engineering sectors. "We are encouraging the private sector particularly the foreign investors, while the government plays the role of a facilitator," he added.

Mr Aziz said the policies of liberalisation, deregulation and privatisation had been resulted in rapid growth of all segments of the economy particularly telecom and banking sectors. “Tele-density has reached 27 per cent and international investors like Singapore government and Standard Chartered and ABN Amro are increasing their investment here,” he boasted.

With a growing middle class Pakistan is fast turning into a major market economy and a manufacturing and servicing destination in the region, he added.

George Soros appreciated Pakistan’s consistently growth rate and the reform agenda undertaken by the government and said that he would like to contribute in the education and healthcare, develop micro-finance, housing finance, especially to benefit the poor.