Finance Minister Asad Umar, on Sunday, termed the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman “historic” as a foundation to take the economic relations between the two countries to the next higher level.
Talking to the state television, he shared his optimism regarding the interest shown by a Saudi energy company to invest in Pakistan’s energy sector. “Economy cannot sustain without energy,” he said, adding that the visit of the crown prince would take the bilateral relations to the new heights.
PM’s adviser says new govt policies making foreign countries invest in Pakistan
Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood also expressed hope for crown prince visit to further enhance the bilateral trade ties. While talking to media sources, he said that the meeting of Pak-Saudi Coordination Council scheduled for Sunday in Islamabad would feature discussions on a number of agricultural and energy issues. There were also mentions of an oil refinery being set up in Gawadar, which would usher a new era of progress, and upgradation of transmission lines.
Dawood said that China, Japan, Malaysia and Turkey have also shown investment in Pakistan after the new government worked towards a conducive business atmosphere in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Board of Investment Chairman, Haroon Sharif, has said that signing of the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) would open new vistas of investment in the country. He told the media sources, “Saudi Arabia is a big economic player and we are going to conduct an investor’s forum with Saudi Arabia in future to hold business to business meetings between the two countries.”
Published in Daily Times, February 18th 2019.
