ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has approved a proposal of establishing an industrial estate at the Chakri Interchange near Islamabad by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), in collaboration with the Government of Punjab.

A formal decision to this effect was taken in a high-level meeting to review the performance of overseas Pakistanis division held here at the Prime Minister’s House on Friday.

An official announcement issued here said that in the proposed plan land will be provided by the Punjab government while infrastructure will be arranged by the OPF on an agreed profit-sharing formula.

The premier said that the government was focusing on skill development so that Pakistani workers can fetch higher wages. The areas of particular interest are construction, hotel services and engineering.

Mr Aziz asked the OPD to encourage and facilitate effective participation of overseas Pakistanis who are keen to participate in the country’s economic development.

He underlined the need for persuading the overseas Pakistanis living in different parts of the world, including the US, European Union, Middle East and Far East regions, to invest more in Pakistan in view of an extremely favourable investment climate.The meeting was informed that during the financial year 2006-07 a total of two,105 complaints were received from overseas Pakistanis and most of these complaints have been resolved while the remaining are under process with concerned quarters.