LONDON: Mr Fazlur Rahman, Pakistan Mi­­nister for Industries, Commerce and Educa­tion reiterated at a Press conference this morning [June 25] the desire of his country’s Government to bring about a speedy realization of the plans to industrialise Pakistan.

The Minister … created a very favourable impression on those present. Most queries related to the investment of foreign capital in Pakistan. Doubts expressed by some on the position of the alien investor were cleared up by Mr Fazlur Rahman, who stated that the foreign entrepreneur had nothing to fear as there was plenty of scope for industrial enterprise in Pakistan.

The attention of the Minister was drawn to a detailed article in the Economist from the paper’s Karachi correspondent on “British investment in Pakistan” in which, it was alleged that among factors discouraging foreign investors was high taxation in Pakistan and antagonism in the local Press against infiltration of outside capital. Describing the fears expressed in the article as unreal, Mr Rahman said: “Taxation in Pakistan is no higher than in other countries. …”

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2024