ISLAMABAD, March 28: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the government is committed to providing healthcare facilities to the people. The prime minister was talking to Sheikh Yousaf Jameel, a leading Saudi investor and president of ALJ, and his delegation who had called on him at the Prime Minister‘s House here on Monday, said a press release.

The prime minister stressed the need for research in medicine and pharmaceutical sector and invited the private sector to join hands with the government in this connection.

Giving an overview of Pakistan‘s economy, the prime minister said the country offered opportunities to investors as its economy would be among the top 10 economies in Asia soon.

“Our economy is expected to cross the seven per cent growth rate this year. All macroeconomic indicators are showing signs of a stable and growing economy,” the prime minister said.

Mr Aziz said structural reforms and improved macroeconomic situation in Pakistan had created an environment which was conducive for investment, and the government was providing all facilities to foreign and domestic investors.

“There is no restriction on flow of capital, no restriction on equity requirements. The government is taking all measures to provide a level-playing field to investors,” he said.

Sheikh Yousaf Jameel commended economic policies of the government and said his group was interested in establishing a cancer hospital to be equipped with the latest facilities.

The group would invest in pharmaceuticals, technology and healthcare sectors, he said. The meeting was attended by senior executives of Hong Kong Bank, federal ministers, adviser to the prime minister on finance, minister of state for finance, chairman of BOI and other senior officials.

Meanwhile, a four-member delegation of ALJ Group and HSBC also had a meeting with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah and expressed keen interest in exploring investment and business opportunities.

The delegation, led by Sheikh Yousaf Jameel, comprised David Hodgkinson and Iqbal Khan, deputy chairman and chief executive officer of the HSBC respectively, and Srivasan Subramanian, manager of the ALJ Group.

The delegation also met senior officials of the ministries of health and education and discussed various projects with them.

Dr Shah stated that increasing productivity and improving quality of services in every field was essential for alleviating poverty.

“We can only attain this goal by introducing innovative technologies to increase production. Pakistan has great potential to be a base for manufacturing goods at very low cost. With the help of new technology the Group possessed, it can serve as a hub for exporting quality products and services to the Middle East and Central Asia,” he said.

The adviser further said that if West Asian countries increased economic collaboration, this area could be turned into a very dynamic region.