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Tribune News Network
Doha
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain has urged top Qatari businessmen to invest in Pakistan's energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors.
Speaking at a meeting with the members of Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) in Doha recently, Hussain said that Pakistan has made several reforms in the last five years to make the country an attractive destination for foreign investment.
He said that Pakistan is making necessary changes in its tax system and investment laws to protect the interest of foreign investors. Administrative reforms are also being taken to make it easier for foreigners to do business in Pakistan, he said.
The historic tie between Qatar and Pakistan, Hussain said, was strengthened by the official visit of the Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani to Pakistan last year.
Many leaders from Pakistan have also visited Doha recently, he said adding that such high-level visits would definitely contribute to the development of economic relations and open up new areas to enhance trade cooperation.
QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al Thani, who represented the Qatari side during the meeting, said that Qatari businessmen were looking for more opportunities to do business in Pakistan.
"Pakistan has rich resources including energy, labour, education, scientific research, health, tourism, culture and arts. We want to forge business ties in these sectors," he said. It is worth mentioning that Qatar and Pakistan have signed a number of agreements in areas of security cooperation, development of water and electric energy, culture and tourism, customs, exhibitions and legal cooperation along with the signing of an agreement with Qatar to import 3.75 million tonnes of liquefied gas annually.
Qatar's exports to Pakistan have reached $220 million consisting primarily of petrochemical products, while the country's imports from Pakistan amounted to $80 million consisting mainly of food products and textile.
Besides several QBA members, Pakistani ambassador to Qatar HE Shahzad Ahmed was also present during the meeting.
