KARACHI, Oct 24: The US Ambassador in Pakistan, Wendy Chamberlain, has appreciated the Sindh government’s efforts for maintaining law and order and making good security arrangements in the province and hoped that this would help promote investment here.

She said this in an interaction meeting with the heads of various national and multinational organizations and members of various trade bodies, including the Overseas Chamber at the Governor’s House on Wednesday.

Sindh Governor, Mohammedmian Soomro, was also present at the meeting.

She told the meeting that opportunities are coming up and these would further open up during the forthcoming visit of President Pervez Musharraf to the US next month.

The participants of the meeting also discussed various problems with the US ambassador.

Wendy Chamberlain dwelt at length on the issue of travel advisories raised by Syed Nasir Ali Shah Bukhari. His point of view was that it was delaying meetings with foreign investors.

The ambassador said that these travel advisories were issued not only in Pakistan but in many countries of the world for security reasons.

However, she said that the authorities were examining how to use mild language in travel advisories.

The proper projection of Pakistan as a peaceful, secure place for investment also came under discussion and the ambassador said that the US will facilitate the same. She was told that foreign journalists will be invited to show them the real situation here.

The participants also suggested holding visit programmes such as “see Pakistan” which may help project the proper image of Pakistan.

Wendy Chamberlain observed that Pakistan has something to offer which many other countries don’t and in this regard she particularly referred to use of English as a base.

The Sindh governor also appreciated the idea and proposed that instead of organizing individual’s visits to Pakistan, these should be organized in groups.

Ms Chamberlain pointed out that the problems being faced today arose because of the Sept 11 tragedy in the US. She said it had also affected tourism on a worldwide scale.

In Pakistan, she pointed out, issues such as sectarian terrorism were also a factor which hindered investment. If such things are controlled, it would remove the element of terror, she added.

She assured that the US administration will support Pakistani businessmen in trade access as their government considers them best of friends.

One of the participants raised the issue of delays caused by the long process of checking of Pakistani shipments.

Another participant, Moin Fudda of Overseas Chamber, appreciated the Sindh government for doing a remarkable job in maintaining law and order and said that the Chamber will invite American journalists to visit Karachi.

Wendy Chamberlain, while discussing investment and trade opportunities, pointed out that Import and Export Bank, OPEC and Trade Development Agency are back here to operate.

Earlier, the US ambassador met the Sindh governor and discussed matters of common interest.

The US Consul General at Karachi was also present during the two meetings.

“We discussed the general situation, the working and operation of the new set-up as well as law and order,” Mr Soomro later said.

He said that the US ambassador thanked the government for providing security to American personnel and their assets here.—APP