JEDDAH, 1 August 2003 — Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s economic policies over the past three years have given a new impetus to overseas investment, according to a visiting federal minister.
“I propose to highlight immense investment opportunities available in Pakistan with my meetings with Saudi businessmen and members of the Pakistani community here,” Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said yesterday.
The minister, who is on a six-day official visit to the Kingdom, will meet with Agriculture and Water Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi and discuss strategies to further increase the level of cooperation between the ministries of the two countries. “I’ll also be meeting Islamic Development Bank (IDB) President Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Ali and review the performance of projects in Pakistan that are being run with the bank’s assistance and explore new avenues of cooperation and financial support,” Sherpao told reporters on his arrival at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport here on Wednesday night.
Asked to comment on the political scene in Pakistan, the minister said the Muttahidda Majlise Amal (MMA), which is taking part in the dialogue with the government on Legal Framework Order (LFO), will attend the National Assembly session set to commence on Aug. 4. “This shows our discussion with the opposition on LFO are fruitful ,” he said.
Discounting reports that the success of talks were the result of any bargain or that MMA was inclined to join the government, Sherpao said: “Discussions on LFO are being held in a true democratic spirit.”
Replying to a question, he said: “Two major political parties that are not participating in the dialogue should come forward in the larger interests of the country as they were themselves demanding initiation of such a dialogue on LFO. They should reciprocate the gesture shown by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.
“The talks with the government on LFO are in the right direction and progressing well,” he said, adding that he was also participating in the government-opposition talks. “Debatable issues have now been reduced to only three points, while discussion on all other points has ended and uniformity of views achieved. The talks are being held in a very cordial and productive manner. The outcome will serve the larger national interests,” he emphasized.
The minister is also expected to hold high-level meetings in Riyadh.
