PM Shehbaz, CEO of Qatar Investment Authority Mansoor Mehmood discuss prospects of investment in diverse fields in Pakistan


DOHA, August 23 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held a meeting with Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Investment Authority Mansoor Mehmood and discussed the prospects of investment in diverse fields in Pakistan including energy, food security, and aviation.

Investment in other areas including tourism and petroleum products also came under discussion. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Syed Naveed Qamar, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Petroleum Senator Dr. Musadiq Masood Malik, SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Doha on a two-day official visit to hold “in-depth consultations” with the leadership and interact with the business community to highlight Pakistan’s investment potential.

As the prime minister landed at the Doha Airport, he was warmly received by the Qatar’s Minister of Transport Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti.

On the invitation of the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, this is the prime minister’s first visit to Qatar since assuming office in April 2022. The prime minister is accompanied by Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Syed Naveed Qamar, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Advisor to PM, Ahad Khan Cheema, SAPM Syed Tariq Fatimi, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and other officials. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr. Miftah Ismail Ahmed is already present in Doha.

According to Foreign Office, the prime minister will hold “in-depth consultations” with the Qatari leadership. The two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on advancing energy-related cooperation, deepening trade and investment ties, and exploring greater employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Qatar.

“Leaving for Qatar today at the invitation of my brother HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. The visit will renew the bond of brotherhood & friendship between our two countries,” the prime minister wrote earlier on Twitter before his departure. He said Pakistan wanted to transform historical bilateral relationship into a “more robust strategic relationship.”

Shehbaz Sharif said that during his interactions with market and business leaders, he will highlight the exciting investment opportunities in Pakistan’s various sectors such as renewable energy, food security, industrial and infrastructure development, tourism and hospitality.

Shehbaz Sharif said that important to understand context of visit. He said that the world is experiencing slow economic recovery from Covid-19. Geo-political tensions have affected supply chains and rising energy and food prices have added more woes, he said. Our shared challenges call for exploring new avenues for cooperation, he said.