Sardar Masood Khan invites US companies to invest in climate resilient infrastructure in Pakistan
WASHINGTON, Oct 02 (SABAH): “A robust Pak-US trade partnership could transform recent crisis in Pakistan into an opportunity for the US business community to invest in building green and climate resilient infrastructure that would withstand future natural calamities,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan has said. “The recent floods in Pakistan and the Hurricane IAN in Florida and adjacent states have reinforced the need for the two countries to work hand in hand for mitigating impacts of erratic climate change,” said the Ambassador.
Sardar Masood Khan made these remarks while talking to President US Chamber of Commerce Suzanne Clark during his visit to the Chamber’s headquarters.
Ms. Clark expressed her deep condolences over the loss of life and damages to the property due to devastating floods in Pakistan that had swept one third of the country razing crops and leveling infrastructure. Ambassador Khan also conveyed his heartfelt sympathies over the havoc caused by Hurricane IAN in Florida and adjacent states. “Timely investment in building climate resilient infrastructure would not only help securing our future but also preclude climate induced global migration, food security crises and a cascade of similar challenges,” he continued.
Sardar Masood Khan said that the US remained an important economic and trading partner of Pakistan over the years. “It is important to give trade a boost with mutual efforts and collaboration between the private sectors of the two countries and policy support of the government,” he continued. Referring to the existing businesses of US multinational companies, the Ambassador said that Pakistan’s strategic location, tech savvy young population, large middle class, phenomenal growth of Pakistan’s tech sector and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) offered tremendous investment opportunities to the U.S. companies.
Ms. Clark said that due its unique strategic location, improved security situation, growing middle class especially the tech savvy young population, Pakistan should become an attractive investment destination for the US companies.
The Ambassador highlighted that bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United States in the preceding financial year has crossed $12 billion which itself reflects the ample scope of enhanced trade between the two countries.
The U.S. corporate sector could reap tremendous dividends by manufacturing its products in Pakistan and exporting them to greater Middle East, Central Asia and even North Africa, said the Ambassador.
Masood Khan apprised the President USCC that the current government has constituted a special task force on Information Technology to promote tech startups. He also reiterated that the Government was focused on addressing the concerns of private sector both foreign and local to provide them an enabling environment for growth. He urged USCC to encourage its member companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan that have grown manifold especially during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.