Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has assured foreign businessmen to provide maximum possible security to them and their businesses in Pakistan. He was speaking at the inauguration of 5th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2008 at Karachi Expo Centre here Monday.
"We would like to seek the understanding of our foreign friends that the main objective of the terrorists is to harm Pakistan by incapacitating its economy. They seek to spread terror amongst our foreigner friends to force them to leave or avoid Pakistan and thus cause capital flight, and declining foreign investment in our country," he added.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, State Minister for Defence Abdul Qayoom Khan Jatoi and Director General, Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) Major General Muhammad Farooq were also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said because of Pakistan''s pivotal role in the campaign against terrorism and extremism, there had been negative stereotyping of Pakistan in the international media, by spreading gossip and despondency and gloom.
This negative stereotyping against Pakistan, nonetheless betrays a fundamental disconnect between the perception and reality, he observed. Prime Minister Gilani, however, noted that these images couldn''t dampen Pakistan''s will and resolve to be true and honourable to ourselves and the world.
Pakistan has continued to sacrifice on account of its undeterred determination to fight the evil forces of extremism and terrorism for peace, security and economic well-being of its own people as well as the people of the rest of the world.
Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed pleasure over the large participation by foreign firms and dignitaries in IDEAS 2008 and said it was a proof that in spite of Pakistan''s campaign against terror, the business and economic activities in the country remain unaffected and the enemies of peace in Pakistan and the world at large will not be able to succeed in their nefarious designs.
The Prime Minister reiterated that to counter the present difficulties that Pakistan was facing as a direct consequence of its campaign against terrorism and as a result of world economic crisis, we would like to increase foreign investment in the country to generate higher level of employment and diversify our exports by gaining enhanced market access in the friendly countries.
He said Pakistan''s defence industry is to play an important role in our export diversification campaign. Pakistan can now meet most of the defence equipment needs of our friendly countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa and South America.
Prime Minister Gilani said he would like to urge the participants to visit the country''s defence production facilities and interact with our manufacturers with a view to exploring development of mutually beneficial defence co-operation links between our countries.
He said Pakistan has a large defence manufacturing, training and supporting infrastructure to cater to the needs of the armed forces as well as it has a capacity to offer high quality products and services to our friendly countries.