ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Metro Group — the German based wholesale distributors — plans to set up a chain of cash and carry outlets across Pakistan by the middle of next year with an investment of $200 million.

This was disclosed by CEO Metro Group Thomas Martin Huebner in a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Monday. He said the outlets were scheduled to start operations by the middle of next year.

He informed the prime minister that the other German investors were keen to invest in agri business, especially the dairy sector as Pakistan ranks amongst the top six producers of milk in the world.

According to an official announcement the prime minister told the German investor that the government was making all out efforts to introduce an efficient supply chain in the country as it will lead to reduction in prices, improvement in quality and enhanced income for the farming community.

Mr Aziz said that the government was focussing on improving logistics and supply chain through better roads, railways and warehousing to ensure an efficient delivery system in the country to improve competitiveness and productivity and reduce the cost of production.

The Metro Cash & Carry, an international market leader in self-service wholesale, plans to open 10 outlets in all the major cities. A single store would offer an assortment of more than 15,000 products--food and non-food articles--under one roof.