Int’l investors & companies should explore business & investment opportunities in Pakistan: President Alvi

ISLAMABAD, Nov 14 (SABAH): Talking to a visiting delegation of Oxford Alumni, President Dr. Arif Alvi said that international investors and companies should explore business and investment opportunities in Pakistan and benefit from Pakistan’s improved business climate. He said that Pakistan offered tremendous investment opportunities in diverse sectors of its economy and was an emerging market that was growing every year.

The visiting delegation led by Haseeb Ahmad, comprised of Oxford graduates from different geographical and business backgrounds, called on President Dr. Arif Alvi at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday, and discussed the prospects of doing business in Pakistan.

Talking to the delegation, the President said that Pakistan was focusing on improving its economy and was making efforts to enhance exports and explore new markets for its products. He stated that Pakistan offered an investment-friendly climate and had improved its ease of doing business ranking in recent years. He added that foreign investors should explore business opportunities in Pakistan in different sectors of the economy, particularly in Information Technology. The President informed the delegation that Pakistan had established the Special Investment Facilitation Council to facilitate and encourage foreign investment in Pakistan and provide a one-window facility to the investors. He remarked that foreign investors should invest in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Special Technology Zones (STZs) and benefit from tax incentives offered by the government.

While highlighting Pakistan’s trained human resources, President Dr. Arif Alvi said that 3.5 million trainings had been imparted since 2018 under the Prime Minister’s Digital Skills Training Program ‘DigiSkills’ in the field of IT to equip youth and women with the latest IT skills. He said that Pakistan was focused on increasing the number of quality and skilled graduates, particularly in IT, besides increasing the quantum of online education.

Meanwhile President Dr. Arif Alvi says the social and economic mainstreaming of the persons with disabilities (PWDs) is inevitable for progress of the country.

During a meeting with a delegation of Chal Foundation headed by Chairman Feroz Ahmed in Islamabad on Tuesday, President Dr. Arif Alvi said the needs of the PWDs could be overcome by providing assistive technology and artificial limbs.

The President also called for steps to ensure indigenous production of quality and affordable assistive technology and artificial limbs for facilitation of the PWDs.

He emphasized practical and policy-level measures to make the PWDs productive citizens of the country.

The President lauded the Chal Foundation’s role for welfare, rehabilitation and facilitation of the differently-abled-persons.

The members of the delegation apprised the president of the steps taken by the Foundation for betterment of the PWDs including the provision of artificial limbs and assistive technology.

The delegation also apprised the president of different projects being undertaken by the Foundation as well as the needs of the PWDs.