ISLAMABAD: Pakistani embassies from 11 countries have sent a list of 237 potential investors and companies (including ones of Pakistani origin) to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
The countries include Kenya, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Qatar, South Africa, Australia, US, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand and United Kingdom (UK).
In pursuance of the proposal of seeking assistance from Pakistani missions abroad for identification of potential expats for investment in the country, MoC had asked Pakistani embassies and high commissions to provide lists of well-off Pakistanis to convince them to invest in Pakistan.
According to MoC, reminders have been sent to embassies and high commissions in France, Canada, Germany, Oman, Sri Lanka and some other countries for not responding to request for assistance in the investors’ identification process so far.
The MoC had offered wealthy Pakistani nationals living abroad to develop special economic zones (SEZs), Zone Enterprise (ZE) and Exclusive Overseas Zones (EOZs) to attract their investment in the country.
Enhanced collaboration between the Board of Investment (BOI), the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) along with strengthened role community welfare attaches is also considered as vital for the success of the project of bringing foreign investment in the country.
Very proposal of organisatoin of business conferences for overseas Pakistanis in targeted countries to familiarise with investment opportunities in collaboration of these institutions is also under consideration of the departments concerned to attract Pakistani immigrants living in other countries to invest in Pakistan.
While stepping forward for attracting foreign investment in Pakistan, MoC reviewed Chinese model in this regard because China had attracted the investments of its migrants to boost the overall level of investment in China.
