KARACHI, May 9: Over 200 companies from 19 countries, including China and India, are displaying their goods at the third Plastic Printing and Packaging and Foodtech Pakistan 2006 exhibition.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony here on Tuesday, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said Karachi would be developed into an advance business hub of the country. He said infrastructure required for converting the city into advance, progressive and economic hub would be taken up. “With a population of 18 million and generating around 60 per cent of the total revenue, Karachi itself is a huge market.”

The nazim invited foreign delegates to invest in Pakistan and explore the potential of Karachi which housed two major ports of the country and was a gateway to hinterland.

The exhibition is showcasing latest trend-setting equipment with comprehensive value to serve closely-integrated industries of Pakistan and the region.

Mr Kamal said Pakistani products were outstanding and with due representation and marketing in the world arena, they could compete with the best. He said further that the city was a driving engine of the country and assured that next time foreign visitors’ travel time from the airport to Expo Centre would be reduced by half.

He said the development of communication and infrastructure with better roads, new flyovers and underpasses would help save time and create efficiency in the industrial production.