ISLAMABAD, March 28: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday high growth in economy had created surge in demand for consumer goods during the last few years. Talking to Chairman Unilever Pakistan Ehsan Malik the prime minister said that this surge in demands had created tremendous opportunities for the private sector and the government will ensure continuity of policies to maintain the momentum of growth.

An official announcement said that Mr Aziz informed the Unilever chairman that the middle class was growing and the capacity of the people to pay had substantially improved. The government has ensured that all its policies are transparent and investment friendly, he added.

Mr Malik said Unilever was optimistic about the future growth prospects of Pakistan and was planning to expand their operations. He informed the prime minister that Unilever business was expanding rapidly.

The sale of Unilever products grew by 20 per cent during the last financial year. The sale of ice cream increased by 50 per cent during the period and there was 29 per cent increase in the sale of personal care products.

The prime minister said that Unilever was a major multinational company that has been an active investor in the Pakistani market and its success can be judged from the fact that its products have made it a household name in Pakistani homes.