KARACHI: The corporate sector of Pakistan is going to hold an investment conference for the first time next month to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and equity investment.

The two-day event, which will be held from May 6-7 in the Qatari capital of Doha and include roadshows and business meetings, is being supported by the Central Depository Company, United Bank Ltd, Pak-Qatar Takaful, Arif Habib Ltd and Al Meezan Investment Management Ltd.

The conference will also seek to convince Pakistanis living in the oil and gas-rich Qatar to invest in their home country.

At the launching ceremony of the conference on Tuesday, most speakers hoped the conference would bear fruit and said Pakistan held a lot of opportunities which needed to be tapped properly. Consul General of Qatar Mishal Mohammed Al-Ansari was also present on the occasion.

President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Zubair Tufail said there was a time when Pakistan was not in a position to attract foreign investment, but the country’s law and order has improved in the last two years. With a population of over 200 million, Pakistan held great investment opportunities, he said.

He said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will also attend the investment conference which will host a wide range of meetings between institutions, banks and corporate entities of both countries.

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief S.M. Muneer extended full support to the Doha investment conference and said Pakistan needed heavy investment in several sectors including steel, petro-chemicals, etc.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2017