KARACHI, March 19: A delegation of Consul Generals and other high ranking diplomats visited the Port City of Gwadar on Thursday. They represented Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Poland, Germany, Switzerland and the UK.

The visit was arranged by the European Union, in co-ordination with Pak Oman Investment Company, a company press release issued on Friday said.

The delegates visited the European Union-funded Vocational Training Centre and under construction Deep Seaport. The strategic location of Gwadar came into limelight from March 2001, when Pakistan began building a deep seaport, which is expected to be operational by March 2005.

Phase I is being built with the Chinese assistance. "The diplomats also hoped that companies from the European Union would also get a chance to participate in the second phase of the Deep Seaport project," stated the Pak Oman press release, adding that Phase II of the port would be developed entirely by the private sector.

Meanwhile, a 19-member Mid-Carrier African diplomats attending advance Diplomatic Course being held by the Foreign Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited the KSE on Friday, for an awareness tour of the Pakistani capital market, says a KSE press release.

MrArif Habib, chairman KSE welcomed the delegates and gave detailed presentation on the working and performance of the exchange. The KSE chairman was stated to have briefed the delegates about the positive current economic scenario of the country as well as the reforms implemented by the present government to boost investment activities in the country.

"The chairman apprised delegation of reasons for strong performance of the KSE during last two years, which had placed Pakistan on the map as the 'best performing market of the world," the KSE press release said.