*ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood,on Thursday said that the government has decided to enhance trade ties withMalaysia with cooperation in various sectors.*
While addressing a joint press conference along with Chairman Board ofInvestment (BoI) Haroon Sharif, the commerce advisor announced that aMalaysian delegation was arriving in Islamabad and $800-900 million foreigninvestments were likely in Pakistan.
He detailed that the investments would be made in telecommunication, food,information technology and auto sectors of the country.
“China has assisted Islamabad in infrastructure development and powersectors. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, but Turkey and Qatar have alsoassisted Pakistan as well.”
BoI chairman Haroon Sharif said that heads of 30 companies will attendbusiness forum tomorrow. He said that Pakistan will hold discussions withMalaysia for the establishment of long-term business partnership in varioussectors.
It is pertinent to mention here that Malaysian Prime Minister Dr MahathirMohamad will arrive in Islamabad on Thursday (today) to pay a three-dayvisit to Pakistan over the invitation of PM Imran Khan.
PM Mohamad will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including severalleading businessmen.
During his stay, Dr Mahathir will be the guest of honour at the PakistanDay parade on March 23, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Hisbilateral engagements include a call on President Dr Arif Alvi and aone-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Khan followed by delegation-leveltalks.
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The two prime ministers will speak at a roundtable meeting of the chiefexecutive officers of industries, who wish to invest in Pakistan’sautomobile and telecom sectors.
Prime Minister Mahathir’s visit would further cement the existing brotherlyand friendly relations between the two countries, the FO statement said,adding the focus of the interest was on enhancing economic, trade,investment and defence ties for the mutual benefit of the peoples of thetwo countries.
On March 20, Haroon Sharif, the chairperson of the Board of Investment, hadsaid that about five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were expected tobe signed during Mohamad’s visit.
He said BoI was organising a Pak-Malaysia business leaders roundtablemeeting on March 22, which would be co-chaired by both PM Imran Khan andMahathir bin Mohamad.
Officials of 15 Malaysian companies will also accompany the Malaysian PM,he said, adding that Malaysia and Pakistan are likely to sign MoUs in thecar assembling, meat, telecom and stones sectors.
