China to hold moots for investment in Pakistan

Thursday, December 17, 2009
By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday urged China to participate in its privatisation programme. In response, Beijing offered to organise sector-specific conferences in China aimed at attracting investors, especially in banking, finance and power sectors in which Chinese investors are interested.

Federal Privatisation Minister Waqar Ahmed Khan, in a meeting, urged Chinese companies to participate in the privatisation programme, which would bring the two countries more closer.

Waqar expressed these views while meeting Luo Zhao Hui, Ambassador of China to Pakistan, who called on him here on Wednesday. Hui assured the minister of further cooperation in the privatisation programme and offered to organise sector-specific conferences in China to attract investors in Pakistan’s privatisation drive.

Currently, 20 Chinese companies are actively engaged in different ongoing projects including steel and mines whereas 70 companies have already successfully completed their projects in Pakistan.

The ambassador said Chinese investors were also interested in the banking, finance and power sectors. Both the countries needed to bring closer business and investor groups to develop public-private partnership in various other areas, he said.

Waqar said Pakistan was actively considering public-private partnership for expansion in public-sector enterprises by attracting fresh investments, improving the quality and efficiency of services, increasing production, transfer of latest technology and generating job opportunities.