Pakistan 'next big place' for investment: Sindh governor

Speakers praise progress of Pakistan's economy at Dubai road show

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's economy is back on track and open for business and investment following a considerable improvement in security situation of the country, noted an investment forum, Khaleej Times reported.

Speakers at the Pakistan Investment Road Show in Dubai said that the country's economy and capital markets had done exceptionally well over the years and now offered good investment opportunities to local and foreign investors in various economic sectors.

"The prime focus of this investment conference is to encourage Pakistanis and others living in the UAE to start looking towards Pakistan," Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair told Khaleej Times at the forum.



"Pakistan is re-emerging after so many decades of uncertainty; every macroeconomic indicator and institutions are getting stronger and I think the next big place for investment is Pakistan," said Zubair, who was also the chief guest at the event.

AKD Securities CEO Muhammad Farid Alam echoed similar views and said Pakistan's business community should avail itself of the investment opportunities in the country.

"Pakistan's economy and capital markets have done exceptionally well over the years. Surging capital markets, major projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are moving the economic engine and helping the economy thrive," said Alam.



Pakistan's stock market was declared the best in Asia in 2016 as the KSE-100 index climbed more than 52% over the past year. The bourse rose above the 50,000-point mark for the first time in February.

Pakistan's Ambassador to UAE Moazzam Ahmed Khan said: "The country is open for business and ready to welcome foreign investment in key sectors."

"The prime focus of this forum is to attract Pakistan's business community and Arab investors and apprise them of the investment opportunities," Khan added.



Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai Brigadier (Retired) Syed Javed Hassan reiterated the positive sentiments, saying that the country was moving fast on the economic front as security conditions had considerably improved.

Pakistan, the 40th largest economy in the world with $270 billion of gross domestic product, is getting positive feedback from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and its economy is expected to grow 5.2% in 2017.