January 23, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 13, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 22: British Deputy High Commissioner and Director UK Trade and Investment for Pakistan Hamish St. Clair Daniel on Tuesday said his country wanted to further strengthen economic ties with Pakistan by exploiting new avenues for mutual trade and investment.

During his four-year tenure as director Trade and Investment in Pakistan British investment has significantly increased and more than 100 British companies were engaged in trade within the country, he said during a meeting with members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This was his farewell visit to the KCCI as he was scheduled to leave Pakistan soon. He was accompanied by a group of senior officers of British High Commission in Islamabad, who explained the new policy initiative about business visa to the UK.

The British Deputy High Commissioner said Pakistan was facing many challenges but had the resilience to convert these challenges into opportunities for development.

Mr Hamish said Karachi was a very potential city for trade and investment. The image of Karachi depicts the image of Pakistan in the world, he said adding that the perception about Karachi could be changed by organising international exhibitions and trade fairs.

He praised the KCCI leadership for strengthening the industrial sector and economic ties between UK and Pakistan.

He recalled his ancestral relations with this part of the sub-continent, which is now Pakistan. His father was a pilot of Royal Air Force and was posted in this area in 1945.

He said that the people of Pakistan were very loving and that he had great attachment with this country. During his stay in Karachi he also visited the interior of Sindh, he added.

President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Shamsi and two former KCCI presidents Siraj Kassam Teli and Zubair Motiwala praised Mr. Daniel for supporting the business community and facilitating trade and investment between the two countries.—APP