Advisor to Finance Ministry Dr Ashfaq Hasan on Thursday expressed the hope that 350 billion dollar foreign direct investment (FDI) would come in the country by the end of current financial year.
Talking in a PTV programme, the advisor said during first ten month of current fiscal year, about 3 billion dollar foreign direct investment has been registered adding it is 2.7 percent of the GDP. He said per capita FDI in the country is about 23 dollars.
Dr Ashfaq expressed the hope that in next five to ten years, massive foreign direct investment would come in real estate sector. Advisor to finance ministry said Pakistanis living abroad are also investing in many sectors. He added that medical tourism has been introduced in the budget 2006-07 adding doctors living abroad would be given incentives if they set up hospital in the country.
Dr Ashfaq said that incentives have also been announced in the budget for expatriates who would set up schools and colleges.
To a question, he said relief has been provided to common man in the budget. He said Rs 435 billion have been allocated for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) adding out of it Rs 50 billion would be spent on reconstruction and rehabilitation of earthquake-hit areas. He said Rs 120 billion have been allocated for infrastructure such as water, power, roads, highways, communication and modernisation of ports etc.