Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the new democratic government is keen to attract foreign investment in power generation, construction of low cost housing, small and big dams, cement and mineral development in view of the growing demand of housing and electricity in the country.
Prime Minister said the government will provide level playing field to both local and foreign investors by allowing foreign investors to hold 100 percent equity without restriction on the movement of capital. He was talking to Dr Ing Detlive Rose, Chairman of M/s Polysius AG of Germany and Syed Asadullah Kazmi, President of Capital Strategies Group, who called on him at his Chamber in Parliament House on Saturday.
Prime Minister said the government plans to construct one million low cost houses per year and would also encourage construction of cement plants in the country as besides meeting the country''s own growing requirement for cement, it can also be profitably exported to neighbouring countries like India and Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan''s investment policy has been formulated to create an investor-friendly environment focusing on opening up the economy and encouraging Foreign Direct Investment. Gilani said investment in construction and manufacturing sector is a key to economic development and the government welcomes and facilitates the investment offered by foreign investors in these sectors.
The delegation assured that their Groups will continue their investment programme in Pakistan due to attractive investment policies of the present government. They informed the Prime Minister that they are keen to invest in the development of infrastructure and minerals and in this connection would be attending the investment conference being held in Quetta next week to explore the possibilities of investing in Balochistan.
The meeting was also attended by Minister for Investment and Industries, Syed Naveed Qamar, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary Board of Investment and Secretary Industries and Production.