ISLAMABAD: The government would fully facilitate Egyptian investors and entrepreneurs coming to Pakistan, said Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday as he welcomed the interest shown by Egyptian companies in investing $1 billion in Pakistan.

Meeting a delegation of Egyptian investors, the prime minister said that there is a huge potential to translate the existing Pakistan-Egypt relations into strong economic ties.

On the occasion, El Sewedy Electric, a renowned Egyptian company expressed its intention of investing $500 million in Pakistan’s energy sector.

The delegates said that Egyptian companies are keen to invest $1bn in Pakistan over the next one year in the energy sector and prime minister’s Naya Pakistan housing scheme.

On the occasion, PM Khan called for the promotion of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Egypt at all levels to tackle the common challenges faced at international level — particularly the negative propaganda about Islam.

Appreciating the services of Egypt’s Jamia Al-Azhar, the PM Khan said that in order to tackle the challenges faced by Islam, there is a need to further promote cooperation among Islamic countries in the area of education.

Highlighting Pakistan’s new energy policy, he said the present government is striving to promote renewable energy sector. He further appreciated the interest shown by Egyptian companies in this respect.

Talking about the health sector, PM Khan said the present government has the vision of a disease-free Pakistan and there is a need to have enhanced Pak-Egypt cooperation in the area of healthcare.

Members of the delegation said that Egyptian companies are keen to invest in Pakistan’s housing, energy, health and other sectors.

They said that the people and business community of Egypt fully recognised the vision and leadership qualities of Imran Khan and wanted to contribute in translating the vision of Naya Pakistan into reality.

The delegation highly appreciated PM Khan’s speech during the 74th session of UN General Assembly.

Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to PM Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Lt. Gen (R) Anwar Ali Haider and Chairman Board of Investment Zubair Gillani were present in the meeting. Egypt’s Ambassador in Pakistan, Ahmed Fadel Yacoub was also present in the meeting.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2019