PM Shehbaz orders global facilitation for investors via Pakistani embassies

In a bid to boost foreign investment, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed relevant ministries to coordinate effectively through Pakistani embassies worldwide to facilitate foreign investors.

PM Shehbaz specifically instructed that these embassies must ensure initial awareness and provide necessary information and facilities to potential investors.

The development comes as the premier chairs a review meeting on the first day of the New Year in Islamabad to oversee economic reforms, investment growth, and the progress of proposed development projects.

Shehbaz also directed all relevant ministries to finalise recommendations for domestic and foreign investment, as well as development projects in their respective sectors, as soon as possible.

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“Providing institutional and administrative facilities to investors is the government’s top priority,” he said, stressing that special importance should be given to export promotion and proposed development projects to boost investment.

The prime minister emphasised that effective implementation of the economic governance policy by all ministries is indispensable. He sought proposals from all relevant ministries for a comprehensive strategy based on practical steps and minimal timelines.

For effective economic reforms and overall growth, the PM highlighted that mutual coordination among all ministries and cooperation between federal and provincial governments play a key role.

He urged ministries to focus equally on industrial production, agriculture, and all other key sectors to drive investment.

During the review meeting, various ministries briefed the prime minister on the progress of ongoing development projects and institutional reforms. The PM further directed that synergy between ministries and cooperation between provinces and federal institutions must be ensured in all economic growth proposals.

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The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Advisor to PM Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistant to the PM Haroon Akhtar, chief secretaries of all provinces, the national coordinator of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and other senior government officials.