ISLAMABAD, April 19: The chairman of Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) Board, Lt-Gen Abdul Qayyum, has called upon the Muslim countries to unite at one platform to harness their abundant resources and potentials.

Speaking at the ‘Futurz 2003’, the international conference on investment and privatisation in OIC countries being held at Jinnah convention Centre, the POF chief said: “The OIC countries are most welcomed to invest in defence production as well as other sectors.”

He said the investment climate in Pakistan had taken an excellent turn primarily because of a renewed commitment by the top leadership itself in ensuring that investors were provided with a favourable environment.

He said the country had tremendous potential in all business and investment sectors, as it enjoyed a favourable and unique geographical location with rich natural and human resources.

About the defence production capabilities, he said “we have a great potential, which can be expanded with the help of Muslim countries.”

Gen Qayyum said joint ventures in defence production should be set up to make our defence impregnable. He said Pakistani engineers and scientists were very talented and they were capable to do miracles.

He said Muslim countries were lagging behind in research and development, thus failing to achieve the desired level of progress in the field of science and technology.

He also urged setting up an advisory council on defence at OIC level to benefit from each others facilities and experiences. He said at present POF was exporting arms and ammunition to about 40 countries, including 17 Islamic states in the world.