KARACHI, Apr 1: Pakistan offers excellent investment opportunities for British investors in energy, oil and gas exploration, education and IT sectors. This was stated by the chairman of visiting delegation of Pakistan Britain Trade and Investment Forum and vice chairman Standard Chartered Bank UK, Sir Thomas Harris while addressing a press conference at British Deputy High Commission here Wednesday.
Sir Harris said that British investors would not go in traditional and less value investment areas like textiles, toys, garments, etc. He said “Pakistan offers one of the most business friendly regime in Asia”. Foreign investors are treated with special hospitality here, he noted.
However, he suggested for an aggressive and focussed campaign in the international media to create a positive image of Pakistan in the outside world.
?Unfortunately, negative news gets global coverage in the media while positive news are covered by the international media. I have, in my meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan suggested them for devising a comprehensive and effective media strategy to get positive image in the international press to attract more investment, he added.
Sir Harris said that he has also assured them to project Pakistan?s positive image in British businessmen. Our Forum will highlight Pakistan?s investment opportunities to British private sector when we will go back to Britain, he opined.
Responding to a question, he said that UK can strongly support Pakistan?s quest for free trade agreement with European Union.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan High Commissioner in UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan said that United Kingdom was very supportive to Pakistani cause in the EU.
About Pakistan Britain Trade and Investment Forum (PBTIF)
The PBTIF is a membership organisation composed of UK based businesses that have a common interest in supporting the principal objective of the group, namely to encourage the development of trade and investment between Pakistan and Britain.
Any corporate organisation based in the UK can become a member of the PBTIF upon payment of an annual membership fee.
The membership fee is currently ?1000 p.a. payable for two years upon joining. An application form is available on this page, which should be returned to Asia House, The Secretariat for the PBTIF, 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP.
Corporate members are invited to attend Board meetings of the Forum, held regularly at Asia House. At these meetings, the key issues between the?two countries are discussed and an agreed approach for recommendations to be made to both governments is formulated. Future events and activities of the Forum are also determined.
The forum is head by Sir Thomas Harris whi is Vice Chairman of Standard Chartered Capital Markets plc.
He previously served in the British Diplomatic Service where his most recent assignment was as the UK?s Director General for Trade and Investment in the USA and British Consul General in New York from 1999 to 2004. Sir Thomas held various appointments in London in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Cabinet Office and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Mr Sahibzada Jahangir
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H.E. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi
High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
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