DUBAI, 7 June 2005 — Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said that the nation has a better profile in the world today because of the contributions of expatriates.
Musharraf made this statement in Abu Dhabi on Sunday while addressing the Pakistan community.
“I can say with pride that Pakistan has an important role to play today in the world and in the Muslim society. When I took over in 1999, I inherited a poor economy. The situation has completely changed now. We are in fact, making contributions to other countries and have become a strong member of the world and the Muslim society.”
He urged UAE and foreign businessmen to invest in Pakistan, saying that huge foreign investments would lead to job creation and poverty alleviation which are the root cause of extremism and terrorism.
He said that Pakistan was adopting a liberalization policy which has boosted the confidence of foreign investors.
He highlighted the important role being played by Pakistani expatriates in improving Pakistan/’s economy. In the past three years, $12 billion has been remitted by overseas Pakistanis, of which $5 billion has come from the expats living in the Gulf, he said.
He also urged that remittances be sent only through bank drafts and not by any other means in order to better serve the country’s economy.
