The Embassy organized a one-day conference on the “Role of Pakistani Diaspora in the Economic Development of Pakistan” in Frankfurt on June 30, 2013. Around 60 prominent Pakistani business community members living in Frankfurt and its surrounding areas and towns attended the event. Ambassador Abdul Basit in his opening remarks said overseas Pakistanis were our asset and the newly elected government was looking forward to working closely with them to lift Pakistan out of its current economic difficulties through more investments, exports and formal transaction of remittances.
While mentioning the state of affairs in Pakistan, the Ambassador briefed the conference about the steps being taken by the government to put the country’s economy back on track. He underlined that democracy was now paying its dividends. The country was bound to get out of its present economic difficulties, as the new government was resolved to provide good governance, extirpate corruption and formulate new economic policies. He added that there would be many more incentives for overseas Pakistanis and that the investment environment would improve in the country sooner rather than later.
During the Conference, presentations were made by Commercial Counsellors Mr. Hassan Yousufzai and Dr. Erfa Iqbal on investment opportunities in Pakistan. The participants were briefed in detail of the rules and regulations as well as incentives in specific sectors of the economy. Four sectors, namely: power, IT, infrastructure and agriculture and agro-based industry were identified as highly lucrative for investments in Pakistan.
Presentations were also made by prominent Pakistani businessmen Mir Sikandar Kohler and Sajjad Naqvi narrating their positive investment experiences in Pakistan.
Consul General Dr. Imtiaz A. Kazi also attended the conference.
The participants gave several suggestions to better investment flow towards Pak economy by the expatriates and it was agreed to set up a permanent platform to ensure regular interaction with the Pakistani business community in Germany and implementation of specific proposals.
