Pakistan PM warns against delay in investment projects by friendly countries

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday warned authorities against any delay in investment projects initiated by friend countries in Pakistan, state media reported, amid Islamabad’s efforts to put the dwindling South Asian economy back on track.
The directives by the prime minister came at a meeting he presided over in the federal capital of Islamabad to review the country’s economy and investment landscape. Sharif said the $350 South Asian economy was on the path to grow.
Since avoiding a default last year, Pakistan has been making desperate attempts to revive its fragile economy and reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July for a new $7 billion loan.
Sharif said the recent upgradation of Pakistan’s ratings to Caa2 from Caa3 by an international credit ratings agency, Moody’s, was an acknowledgement of the “sound economic policies” of his government, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Keen interest of friendly countries to invest billions of rupees in Pakistan’s various sectors is a result of business-friendly policies of the government,” he was quoted as saying.
“Any delay in the implementation of investment projects from friendly countries is not acceptable.”
Pakistan has reached investment deals with a number of countries, mainly China and the Gulf states, in infrastructure, energy, maritime, ports and other sectors.
During the meeting, Sharif directed his cabinet members and relevant institutions to take steps to accelerate the pace of ongoing projects and ensure transparency in their implementation.
He highlighted enormous investment potential in the country’s information technology (IT), agriculture, minerals, gemstones and energy sectors.
“Foreign investment in these sectors will not only boost exports’ volume, but it will create job opportunities for the youth,” he noted.