RIYADH, 19 April — In a bid to promote joint investment and mutual trade with the Kingdom, the government of Pakistan has appointed investment consultants in various Saudi cities.

The consultants will work in concert with the Pakistani Embassy or Consulate to boost more investments and trade between the two countries.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani said this “move was an important step in promoting economic ties between the two countries.”

Durrani expects that the joint investments and commercial activities will also promote cooperation in other fields — political, scientific and cultural.

The Pakistan government will also increase the number of delegations sent to the Kingdom to enhance the partnership between Riyadh and Islamabad in all fields, Durrani added.

“My government realizes Saudi Arabia’s importance as a regional power and its influence in the region — politically and economically,” the ambassador said.

He also referred to the recent visits made by economic delegations from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, saying other delegations are to visit later this month.

Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh, stressed the importance of the steps being taken by the Pakistan government in activating joint trade and investment between the two sides.

The Pakistani government’s move will benefit both the sides by enhancing mutual trade in the light of the current investment opportunities and concessions offered in both the countries. The steps will also facilitate easy communication between the concerned parties, Al-Jeraisy added.

With oil dominating Saudi exports to Pakistan, Saudi exports in 1999 stood at SR2 billion, a three percent increase compared to the previous year. The balance of trade in favor of the Kingdom has gradually been increasing since 1993 with an exception in 1996. The balance peaked in 1997 at SR1.4 billion.

The export of non-oil commodities to Pakistan stood at SR147.5 million in 1995 while it fell to SR75 million in 1997. Leather and its products topped the list of Saudi exports to Pakistan followed by chemicals, plastics, stones, wood pulp and fiber products, minerals, metal products and electrical goods.

The imports from Pakistan are mainly rice, cotton, cotton tent materials, mango, textiles and honey.