KARACHI, Feb 3: The British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Mark Lyall Grant, observed that the environment of Karachi was conducive to investment, saying British investors are keen in making investments in the city.

He was talking to City Nazim Mustafa Kamal at the nazim’s office here on Friday. British deputy high commissioner in Karachi Hamish Daniel was also present.

Mr Grant said that Britain was making large investments in Pakistan and told the city nazim that the British investors were ready to make more investments particularly in Karachi.

The city nazim told the guest that Karachi was the economic and business centre not only of the country but also of the region, adding that the country’s largest industrial zone was present here and it had vast opportunities for investors. He assured the envoy that the city government would provide every possible facility to the investors on a public-private partnership basis.

The city nazim said that investors were taking keen interest in making investments in the metropolis due to its peaceful environment and a Malaysian company had expressed interest in construction of a flyover from Quaidabad, Landhi to Jinnah Bridge, Tower that would be the Southern Bypass. Similarly, there are opportunities to investments in the circular railway, transport and other sectors, he added.

The nazim told Mr Grant that the city government had banned auction of land and would launch projects on them on basis of public-private partnership that would be a its permanent source of revenue.

He informed that locations had been chosen to build 30 parking plazas and work started with Rs2 billion for infrastructure uplift of the industrial zones.

Meets Ibad: The British high commissioner along with the Deputy High Commissioner, Hamish Daniel, also called on the Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, at the Governor’s House.

During the meeting various matters of significance including education, health and investment came under discussion.

The Sindh governor said that Karachi was the emerging economic hub of the region and the local as well as foreign investors were taking interest in expanding their business in the city as well as in other parts of the province.—PPI/APP