Pak-Americans urged to invest in homeland: security situation under control in Pakistan

Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar said on Saturday that "security situation in Pakistan is under control", the national economy is performing "very well", and the country is destined to soon attain its rightful place of progress and prosperity. He referred to the aspect of continuity of economic reforms which have yielded positive results, stating that Pakistan was fully abreast with the state of challenges and opportunities before it.
The Commerce Minister said this while speaking on the topic of Leveraging Opportunities for Entrepreneur-ship in Pakistan at a daylong conference organised by the Organisation of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America (Open), at a hotel in McLean, Virginia.
He dwelt at length on different aspects of Pakistan's economy, trade and investment opportunities, reforms package, the meetings held by the delegation that he is heading during its current weeklong visit, and the achievements made.
Humayun said: "I am happy to announce that the United States and Pakistan have formally started negotiations on Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), while the Joint Council under Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa) interacted with US counterparts which is a step forward and which eventually moves toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States."
He, however, said he did not have a timeframe, "but I can say that block-by-block, we are moving toward the same direction."
Pakistan, he said, was capable of facing fair competition as its products are highly competitive and of high standard.
Forcefully pleading the case for Pakistan's improved access to the US market, he said that high tariff rates were being charged on Pakistani exports to US which matter requires attention and remedy.
"It is a wide open field," he said, advising the upcoming Pakistani-American entrepreneurs to take full advantage of opportunities available back home by investing in their fields of choice, which ranged from export-import to setting up of medicare centres, educational and IT centres, manpower training institutes, and so on and so forth, "as the sky is the limit".
"In fact," he said, "many of the pioneers of the efforts aimed at giving back to the society of their origin are sitting in today's galaxy of business and trade personalities."
The Commerce Minister said the security situation is improving, "and we all must do our bit" in making Pakistan economically forward, and ensuring it progresses and prospers.
"Problems are there, but the things are looking bright; people are feeling good," he said.
"Peace process that President General Pervez Musharraf has started with India is seen to be fundamental to stability in the region," he said, adding, "Pakistan is pursuing the cause of peace very diligently."
He sad: "My message to you--the capable, qualified and monetarily well-off entrepreneurs - is to reach out. Do your homework well. We want you to become part of the economic growth. It does not look good that intelligent and qualified people like you sit outside the country, not contributing to the cause of national uplift and nation-building."
"We want you to be part of the economic boom that is taking place in Pakistan," he added.