KARACHI, Feb 15: The Swiss Federal Under-Secretary of Economics Monika Ruhl Burzi called on City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal at his office on Thursday.

Ms Burzi was leading a 15-member delegation, including Swiss Ambassador Markus Peter, Consul General Martin Bienz, Desk Officer South East Asia and representatives of different companies of Switzerland.

The delegation observed that Karachi was a peaceful and progressive city and its rapid pace of development activities were worth appreciating. The investors and businessmen of Switzerland would be delighted to invest in the city, the delegation observed.

Ms Burzi said they were very impressed to see the fast pace of development which indicated that Karachi would soon be emerging as a modern city in Asia. Saying that the business community of Switzerland is ready to invest here, she invited Mustafa Kamal to visit Zurich and Geneva and brief businessmen on the development of Karachi.

The nazim told the delegation that Karachiites were ready to march with world side-by-side. The crime rate in Karachi was not more than any metropolis of the world, he said. Pakistan is playing its vital role in the war against terrorism and its repercussions are being felt in major cities, but the law enforcement agencies are doing their level best to curb the criminal and terrorism activities. The maintenance of law and order and other initiatives taken by the city government has revived the confidence of foreign investors, he added.

Presently, renowned companies from Malaysia, Kuwait, China, Saudi Arabia, America and European countries are investing here in information technology, transport sector and solid waste management. He also cited the examples of IT Tower and Elevated Expressway in this regard. So far the city had received US$1.2 billion foreign direct investment, he added.

“The rapid pace of economic and commercial activities in the city indicates that the future of Karachi is bright,” he said adding that vast opportunities for making investment are available here.

Mustafa Kamal said the city government was providing complete security to the capital of foreign investors. He said foreign investors would be offered precious land on nominal prices to expand their business and strengthen country’s economy.

Elaborating the development activities, he said the world had recognized Karachi as one of the most attractive city for doing business. Due to this, he added, they invited him in the World Economic Forum while no other mayor had been invited from Pakistan. “It was an honor for me to represent Karachiites before the world to eliminate the misconceptions about the city and promoting the image of Pakistan.

He said the city government was spending Rs4.5 billion for the improvement of its four industrial zones.

Besides, he said the construction of 25-km-long Elevated Expressway would be started in the next couple of weeks and it would be used as Southern Bypass to connect Karachi Port to the National Highway. The construction of Northern Bypass linking Karachi Port to the Super Highway had already been completed which provided hassle-free corridor for transportation of cargo to upcountry.

Some companies from Kuwait, China and Saudi Arabia had showed interest in solid waste management, the nazim said adding that the entire solid waste management system would be outsourced in the next two months. The city government had purchased Rs600 million solid waste machinery to improve sanitation condition, he added.

Later, Mustafa Kamal asked Swiss investors to take advantage of the facilities being provided by the city government.