Economy to take off in a couple of years

US diplomat says misconceptions about Pakistan fading away.


Our Correspondent January 31, 2012

LAHORE: Pakistan’s economy is going to take off in a couple of years as misperceptions about the country are fast fading away, says US Commercial Counsellor Brian McClreary.

During a visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday, McClreary said Pakistan had vast potential to become a developed economy, but it was only suffering because of lack of technology and the US was keen and taking measures to remove the hurdles coming in the way of expanding Pak-US economic relations.

The diplomat said the US embassy in Pakistan was making efforts to highlight Pakistan’s potential so that US businessmen could make investment in the sector of their choice.

Describing Pakistani entrepreneurs as very creative, he said, “we all need to do a better job collectively to create more success stories and the embassy is ready to extend cooperation.”

Speaking on the occasion, LCCI Vice President Saeeda Nazar underscored the need for a free trade agreement between the two countries and asked the US policymakers to give some attention to this area.

LCCI is planning to send a sector-specific delegation to the US in May to take part in the International Franchises Expo.

Exports to the US, the biggest trading partner of Pakistan, ranged from $3.7 to $3.9 billion per year over the past four years. “We do have greater capacity to increase exports to $5 to $6 billion but it requires not only greater access to the US market but also some transfer of technology,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2012.

COMMENTS (4)

Asif Ameer | 12 years ago | Reply

No one, including the media and the "game-changers", has a clue why the economy has bogged down. Its the Federal Budget Deficit. Its the International Trade Deficit. Its the loss of Production capacity in the local Economy. Its the foreign debt. Its the Monetary Infrastructure. This article is a pure lie. PURE lie. Wanna know the fact? Pakistan has already entered its initial stages of HyperInflation. Its going to get horrible. Security condition will worsen. Food and water shortages will start rising. Petrol is simply not be available to the common public. I give you 2 years. 2 years. Why 2 years? 2 words - LEAP OPTION Expiry.

Ahmad | 12 years ago | Reply

This will only happen when there is honest and sincere leadership at the top.

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