KARACHI: Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Pakistan will invest in expanding its production lines in 2017 and ahead, the CEO of the company said.

Sharing future plans with Dawn, RB Pakistan CEO, Shahzeb Mahmood said the investment will include capacity expansion of existing brands at the Mauripur factory where the company has recently purchased new land.

RB is also investing in developing new products within the existing brands, besides planning to launch new brands in Pakistan over the course of next three to five years.

There has been an increase of over 25 per cent in employment in the last one year, with over 1,000 people working in the company, he said.

Mr Mahmood said after investing $23 million in 2013 in areas including manufacturing, factory expansion and education programmes, the company would continue to explore favourable opportunities to invest in business growth.

A big chunk of investment goes into community education programmes aimed at improving lives and promote hygienic lifestyle.

The company has seven regional offices across Pakistan with head office in Karachi. The company also has over 3 third party manufacturing facilities and one manufacturing facility.

To a query that RB had purchased Pak Suzuki Motor Company’s old plant at Site area in 2013, he said the company has relocated its warehousing to the new plot of land which enabled the company to invest in production facilities in the existing plants.

RB CEO termed the current business environment in Pakistan as ideal and hence attractive to the overseas investors.

Talking about the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Mr Mehmood said the project would play a major role in the future economic development of the country.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2017