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CHAIRMAN BOARD OF INVESTMENT
PAKISTAN MR. WASIM HAQQIE VISITED EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA
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(Al-Dhahran, February 3, 2001) Mr. Wasim Haqqie, Chairman Board of
Investment Pakistan who accompanied the high-powered delegation arrived in Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia to take part in Ministerial Commission at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mr. Haqqie left
behind to visit Eastern Province where he has to attend a reception organized by Pakistani
Community Council, Eastern Province at Dhahran International Hotel. It is worth mentioning
that Mr. Haqqie has been working in the EP for many years in an Automobile Company. He
arrived along with Mohammad Saleem, Commercial Councilor, Embassy of Pakistan to attend a
dinner reception where he was a Chief Guest. Mohammad Naseem Pasha started the program with the recitation from the Holy Qura’an. The stage secretary Javed Inam thanked the Chief Guest and the prominent Pakistanis of the Eastern Province including Doctors, Engineers, Professors, Businessmen, Accountants, Professionals and Computer Literates. He requested Mr. Ilyas Khan a co-sponsor of this function with PCC to welcome the chief guest and other guests.  Mr. Haqqie briefed
the audience about the outcome of Ministerial Commission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was
very optimistic and said that they have discussed not only the Saudi investment in
Pakistan but many other fields namely manpower, business and trade were discussed in
details. He said proudly that our brotherly relations with Kingdom are cordial and beyond
any doubt what so ever. He said proudly the Saudi businessmen delegation will go to
Pakistan soon to further explore the possibilities of mutual trade relations. It is
confirmed now that the delegation of business will arrive in Pakistan on February 14,
2001. Mr. Haqqie with help of slide presentation explained the salient feature of Pakistan’s economy, however, he admitted that there is long way to go to project any rapid growth but we have been able to contain the downward trend of economy. We have documented the economy to 70 % and have expanded the tax net now we have about 1.2 million tax payers as compare to previous 9,50,000. He praised the  General Musharaf and his
Government for making all out efforts to control the economy. He said the inflation is
only 5.5% that was doubtful as per the recent price hike of gasoline products. He said the
investment environment in Pakistan is very congenial, the Government is providing all
facilities to the investors and we are working on the process of providing constitutional
guarantee to the investors to build and restore their confidence. The Hubco decision has
helped to build the confidence of investors. He mentioned about the investment pouring in
the country particularly in the field of oil and gas, textiles and IT that is going to be
about 1.6 billion dollars in 3 years that includes 700 millions in textile 300 million in
IT and 711 millions in oil and gas fields. He admired Dr. Atta u Rehman Minister of
Science and Technology who is working day and night from inside and outside investment. At
present 650 foreign companies are operating in Pakistan He said overseas Pakistanis have
always played an important role in the country’s foreign exchange. I request them to Bring the investment into country and increase their foreign exchange remittances. He mentioned the freezing dollar accounts for which the then Government had no other choice and assured this will never happen again. We are involving overseas Pakistanis in decision-making. There are no restrictions on foreign investment capital and profit can be repatriated 100%. |