ISLAMABAD: The UK and USA are major trading partners of Pakistan and Pakistan wants to further strengthen its trade and economic ties with these countries to achieve beneficial outcomes for its economy.
This was said by Faad Waheed, Acting President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry while addressing a delegation of Pakistani origin politicians and business community from UK and USA that visited ICCI led by Imran Hussain Member UK Parliament and Shadow Minister Employments.
Faad Waheed said that Pakistan-UK bilateral trade is currently around £ 2.9 billion and Pakistan-USA bilateral trade is around US$ 10.5 billion, which is still below its actual potential. He said that more serious efforts are needed to further improve Pakistan’s trade with UK and USA.
He said that Pakistani diaspora in UK and USA should play more effective role in further enhancing trade and investment relations of Pakistan with these important markets. He said that Pakistan is a huge market of over 220 million consumers with tremendous potential for joint ventures and investment in various sectors of its economy.
He invited Pakistani diaspora in UK and USA to explore JVs and investment in Pakistan and assured that ICCI would extend all possible cooperation to them in such efforts. Engr. Muhammad Azhar ul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI said that Pakistan has good potential to export more products to UK and USA.
He stressed for regular exchange of trade delegations to explore all untapped areas of mutual cooperation of Pakistan with UK and USA. Khalid Iqbal Malik, Group Leader ICCI said that Pakistani diaspora should consider investing in housing & construction, oil & gas exploration, infrastructure development, tourism and other sectors in Pakistan. He said that ICCI would provide its full cooperation to connect them with right partners in Pakistan.
Speaking at the occasion, Imran Hussain, Member Parliament UK and Shadow Minister for Employments said that they all are friends of Pakistan and want to act as a bridge between Pakistan and UK. He also invited ICCI delegation to visit UK and they will host it. He thanked ICCI for giving warm reception to the delegation.
Lord Wajid Khan & Lord Qurban Hussain, Members House of Lords UK, Yasmin Dar Deputy Mayor of Manchester and others also spoke at the occasion and stressed that Pakistan should create conducive environment for young Pakistani diaspora in UK and USA for investing in Pakistan.
Arshad Rachyal Secretary General Pakistan Press Club UK, Zahir Ahmed Maher Chairman Overseas Pakistan Global Foundation, Tahira Mohammad USA Chair of Pakistan Organization Worker Education & Rights, Nawab Ud Din USA Chairman Signature Limo NY, Syed Ali Kamran Kirmani USA Entrepreneurs 7 Politican, Nadeem Ahmed Khan Chairman Khubaib Foundation, Afzal Butt President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and others were in the delegation.