ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said that economic indicators in Pakistan were showing positive trend and the country offered attractive business opportunities to both local and foreign investors in all sectors.
He was talking to a delegation led by Chairman DEG, Winfried Polte at the Prime Minister House.
DEG, a German investment bank, is a member of KfW Bankengruppe, one of the largest European development finance institutions, which has contributed to the financing of 28 projects in Pakistan with an overall invested amount totalling 120 million euro, while its worldwide investment stands at euro 45 billion.
The prime minister said Pakistan offered a level-playing field to all investors and imposed no restriction on percentage ownership.
He said foreigners were encouraged to invest in all sectors and the country offered attractive investment opportunities in several sectors, including telecom, IT, oil and gas, financial services, engineering, insurance, agribusiness and real estate.
Mr. Aziz said that during the last five years the per capita income and size of the economy had doubled, remittances had increased, exchange rate was stable while debt burden and poverty had reduced and reserves had crossed $16 billion, an all time record level.
He said that because of high economic growth during the last five years and expansion in various fields the middle class was rapidly growing and demand for consumer goods was increasing.
The prime minister said that because of consistency in policies and a structural reform agenda based on de-regulation, liberalisation and privatisation Pakistan has attracted over $8 billion worth foreign investment last year, which is highest in the country’s history.
Talking about the demographic advantage, which Pakistan has over other countries in the region, he said that Pakistan had 100 million of its population below the age of 25. The government was focussing on educating and training this vital human resource.
The prime minister noted with satisfaction that economic cooperation between Pakistan and Germany was increasing, particularly in trade and investment.—APP