NEW YORK – Pakistan’s economy has made remarkable advances, with aliberalized investment sector and improved security environment, ConsulGeneral Ayesha Ali told Pakistani-American businessmen on Thursday.
“Our investment regime is the most liberal in the region,” she said at ameeting aimed at promoting entrepreneurship in Pakistan for economicdevelopment in the country.
“We offer an open admission policy for investment in majority of sectorsthat does not require pre-screening and approval for entrants,” Ms. Aliadded.
The event was jointly organized by the Pakistan consulate in New York andthe Organization of Pakistani entrepreneurs of North America (OPEN).
Founded in 1998, OPEN has grown to eleven chapters in the U.S, U.K. andPakistan, with leading entrepreneurs, business leaders and corporateprofessionals as its members.
The consul general briefed the gathering about the investment and businessopportunities in Pakistan and promised every possible help to overseasPakistanis to do business in their motherland. The consulate, she said, wasgeared to facilitate their work.
“Led by our dynamic Prime Minister, Mr. Imran Khan, our economy is verymuch on the mend and there is no dearth of good news when we talk abouteconomic stability and future economic outlook,” Ms. Ali said.
“Our government’s economic policies have already started showing positiveresults and there is significant improvement in our economic indicators.”She said that the broad economic goals of the government includedsustainable and inclusive economic growth; industry innovation andinfrastructure development.
“Our special focus is on increasing investment in Pakistan to transform thebusiness environment by providing efficient, convenient, transparent andintegrated services to investors,” the consul general said. “We aim toenhance the investment to GDP ratio from existing level of 15.4% to 20% ofGDP in the coming years.”
Imran Husain, president of the tri-state chapter of OPEN, said he foundtoday’s interaction very useful. OPEN, he said, provides a platform toconnect with each other and exchange information for mutual benefit.