Pakistani Diaspora urged to invest in Pakistan
LONDON: UK-Pakistan Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (UKPCCI) has urged the Pakistani Diaspora to invest in
the country of its origin which offers plenty of business opportunities in
various industrial and agricultural sectors. The call for investment in Pakistan was made by UKPCCI President Muhammad Samiullah at a dinner hosted in honour
of textile trade delegation and a group of senior Government officials
currently visiting Britain
as a part of study group.
Samiullah noted that the trade
balance was in a favour of Pakistan
with exports to UK
amounting to British pounds 514.826 million as against imports of pounds
426.267 million as of 2007 giving the South Asian country a net surplus of
88.559 million pounds.
Nevertheless, he pointed out there existed several
areas where the UK-based Pakistan business community could invest by setting up
cold storage plants, food processing facilities as well as power generation.
UKPCCI Chief said 23 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP was related to the
agricultural sector which also employed 44 per cent of Pakistani work force. He
also spoke of the opportunities available in the agricultural machinery whose
use could help Pakistan
boost its produce and bring greater areas under cultivation.
Spelling out some of the difficulties faced by the
overseas entrepreneurs in doing business in Pakistan, he called upon the
authorities to remove the bottlenecks and hiccups to ensure bigger investments.
Welcoming the appointment of Wajid Shamsul Hasan as the new Pakistan High Commissioner to UK, Samiullah expressed optimism that he carry forward the honourable task of further cementing the ties between the
two countries and maintain close liaison with the community.
He also appreciated the support and assistance
being rendered by Pakistan High Commission to UKPCCI members.
He mentioned that Dr.Ashraf
Chauhan, Director, UKPCCI and a member of the Punjab
Assembly from a Gujranwala constituency, was
using his extensive experience in UK to construct both health and
educational facilities for the welfare of his constituents.
Sarfraz Khan, head of the
textile delegation whose visit has been organised by
the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), underscored the importance
of adapting a proper strategy to capture UK markets where the premium was on
quality.
He said during their inter-action with the British
business people, they were able to identify new markets and secure fresh
orders.
Khan said Pakistan apparel and textile
industry was facing stiff competition from other competitors and there was a
need to diversify the market through value addition. He also referred to
delegation’s visit to Turkey
as ‘fruitful and beneficial.’
Dr.Chauhan described the UK-based
Pakistan
business community as ‘hardy and robust’ and said it has achieved success
through sheer hard work and unrelenting efforts.
He said as MPA he has made a number of suggestions to
the Punjab Government to improve and safeguard the investments of the overseas
Pakistanis and give them confidence to establish greater number of business
ventures.
The Head of Chancery Manzurul
Haq, Commercial Secretary Saira Najeeb and UKPCCI Secretary-General Naheed Randhawa also spoke on the
occasion and highlighted the need for further enhancing the trade and
commercial ties with UK.
Courtesy: APP
June 24, 2008
