Hamish St Clair Daniel, British Deputy High Commissioner, said here on Friday that British investment has not only helped in broadening manufacturing base in Pakistan but also in transferring technology.
Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) he named ICI, Unilever, National Grid, and Glaxo, which are in Pakistan for over 50 years.
Daniel said that his father was in Karachi in 1945 and he considers Karachi as his second home.
About easing the grant of visa, Daniel said that about 6000 visas were issued last year to students seeking studies in UK. The businessmen having trade contacts in UK are granted visa without any delay.
He said that 75 staff members in British Council are Pakistanis. To prevent the visa applicants from forming up queue in front of the Consulate office, it has been arranged by him that applications for grant of visa should be sent through Gerry FedEx, who will conveniently manage to transport the documents to and from the British Consulate. Every application is being attended within a week's time, he said.
Daniel advised that intending Pakistanis must send their applications through Gerry FedEx.
He agreed that travel advises are being issues occasionally to the British people in the interest of security
Siraj Kassam Teli, President, KCCI, said that Pakistan has close economic and trade relations with UK and Pakistan's major exports to Britain are textile products.
The relations exist in several socio-economic fields and a large number of Pakistanis are having residence in UK.
The current scenario offers great potential for investment from British companies to form joint ventures and enter into agreement for transfer of technology. The potential demand exists in many industrial sectors, said Teli.
He said that there are about 15000 small and big manufacturing units in this metropolis, and from steel making to food processing all activities are going on smoothly.
Teli emphatically denied the false propaganda launched by certain foreign media about the law and order situation in Karachi.
He asked the Deputy High Commissioner to tell his government not to advise travel restrictions to his countrymen as there is no danger for any foreigner visiting or living in Karachi.
To negate such propaganda in a vivid manner, Karachi Chamber is organising a fair in Karachi next month to make the people feel that Karachi is a peaceful place where industrial and economic activities are going on unhampered, Teli added.
He requested the UK Deputy High Commissioner to send advice to businessmen of Britain to come to Karachi and visit the fair 'My Karachi-Oasis of Harmony', which will be a better platform for interaction with the entrepreneurs of Pakistan.