Advisor to Prime Minister for Trade & Investment in the UK and Europe, Sahibzada Jehangir said on Saturday that more than 200 investors not only participated in the Lift Pakistan Investment Conference 2019 but agreements were also signed to increase future investment.

While addressing a press conference Sahibzada Jahangir said that political protests and sit-ins are the part of a democratic system in all over the world. "If Maulana's shutter down threats had made any difference, he would not have stepped into Pakistan's land the next day with so many investors. Confidence of the world for investing in Pakistan had been restored under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan," said Jahangir.

He also said that after the meeting with the Prime Minister, the Dutch oil company Vital is increasing its shares in Pakistan from 27 percent to 41 percent. Consensus has been made to take this investment to 100 percent by 2020. The Anglo-Forest Company is committed to make Pakistan a polio-free country. An agreement has been signed with the American company Money Gram to increase the convenience and confidence of expatriate Pakistanis. Now overseas Pakistanis will be able to transfer and receive their funds outside the country within an hour.

He further said that China is among the most powerful economies in the world today because of investment of their overseas. Pakistani economy will also flourish if overseas invest in the country. He said Pakistan is passing through difficult times but these difficulties are temporary. Prime Minister's efforts will boost the foreign investment and eradicate the unemployment from the country.

He was of the view that PTI could have controlled inflation by providing subsidies under different heads by taking loans from banks like in the past, but this would not be an effective and lasting solution for revival of economy. PTI took the path of sustainable reform, which is no doubt bit difficult at the moment, but it will end in prosperity.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019