Investors express interest in mineral exploration

Willing to invest despite difficult conditions.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-Britain Trade and Investment Forum has expressed interest in investing in the mineral sector of Pakistan, which is an attractive destination for investors because of the huge mineral potential.

A delegation of the UK-based investment forum showed the interest in a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani here on Wednesday.

The members of the delegation said they had undertaken ventures for exploration of minerals in many parts of the world, including those which were highly volatile. Citing an example, they said the forum had successfully undertaken mineral projects in South Africa, despite difficult conditions there due to racial discrimination and tribal feud in the past. Such adverse circumstances were not unusual in the mineral exploitation business, they added.

The prime minister directed the Planning Commission deputy chairman and the Board of Investment chairman to help identify mineral projects keeping in view the interests of the country. Gilani assured the delegates that the government would extensively facilitate them and irritants, if any, would be addressed.

The delegation has already met Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan and has planned to meet the top leadership of Balochistan.

The delegation said Pakistan was like a “hidden jewel” as the potential of world-class copper, gold, coal and gemstone deposits had not been exploited for improving the standard of life of the people.

One of the delegates said the forum would prove to the international business community that Pakistan was a gateway for big international companies operating in the mineral business.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th,  2011.