Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday said that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was playing an active role in attracting investors from Gulf countries, including Qatar, to benefit from opportunities in key sectors of the economy.
The prime minister, in a meeting with Ambassador of Qatar in Islamabad Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater, said that Pakistan and Qatar enjoyed strong, fraternal ties.
He expressed Pakistan’s desire to expand bilateral cooperation across all spheres, particularly trade and investment. He also conveyed warm regards to the Amir of Qatar. The prime minister encouraged the Qatari ambassador to explore the potential for cooperation in tourism and media sectors.
He said that Pakistan appreciated the role played by Qatar in diplomatic efforts that led to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
He stressed the need for concerted efforts by the international community, particularly Muslim Ummah, to bring peace in Palestine.
As this was Ambassador Al-Khater’s first call on the prime minister since presenting his credentials in November, he congratulated the envoy on assuming ambassadorial responsibilities in Pakistan and hoped that the bonds of friendship between the two countries would further strengthen during his tenure.
Earlier, The Apex Committee of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday reviewed progress on various measures being undertaken to improve the investment climate and approved various policy level interventions to further facilitate the investors including strengthening of domestic dispute resolution mechanism. The committee reviewed various projects and initiatives being pursued through the platform of SIFC.
It reviewed progress on privatization and appreciated the collaborative approach of various stakeholders in timely completion of various critical benchmarks and gave directions to maintain the momentum, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, members of the caretaker federal cabinet, caretaker provincial chief ministers and high level officials.
The committee also developed consensus on fast tracking the infrastructural development to facilitate the investors, especially in remote areas of the country and appreciated the ongoing inclusive approach towards human resource development to support emerging needs in key sectors of economy. The federal ministries presented progress on the projects being steered in key sectors and gave plans for timely realization of the envisaged investments.
The prime minister directed all the stakeholders to vigorously pursue various SIFC’s initiatives to ensure their accomplishment within stipulated timeframe. The chief of army staff assured unwavering resolve of the Pakistan Army to support government’s initiatives aimed at economic recovery of the country.
The committee showed satisfaction on overall progress achieved in the key sectors under SIFC. It appreciated the enhancing level of economic engagements with friendly countries including finalization of Bilateral Investment Treaty with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as signing of MoUs and Framework Agreements with the United Arab Emirates and State of Kuwait respectively. The forum gave directions to convert these sovereign commitments into economic reality at fast pace. It also showed firm resolve to take action against smugglers, hoarders and market manipulators that had impacted the economic trajectory and to provide immediate relief to the common citizens.
