Hamish St Clair Daniel, Deputy High Commissioner of UK, has advised business community to make efforts to improve image of Pakistan abroad to boost trade and investment.
Addressing members of Site Association of Industry (SAI), he said that over 200,000 visas were issued by British High Commission to Pakistani including business community and added that they must make efforts to project Pakistan as prospective country for investment and trade.
He was replying to question regarding negative propaganda by BBC, the deputy high commissioner advised business community that while they travel abroad they must contact chambers of commerce and business community to apprise them about existing business opportunities and investment climate in Pakistan.
He noted that Pakistan have a very active High Commission in UK this commission have to take steps to built Pakistani image. Pakistani High Commission is organising two seminars on investment and business climate in May this year, he added.
Replying another question, the deputy high commissioner noted that the British ministers have already announced that they will support Pakistan on bed linen anti dumping issue and its entry in Commonwealth.
Regarding visa, the he informed that the deputy high commission in Karachi will start issuing visas from last week in May or in first week of June this year.
He said that on average the high commission issues around 200,000 visas annually and 6000 student visas.
Welcoming the guests Nisar Shekhani, Chairman SAI, said Pakistan and British have always enjoyed extremely cordial and mutually benefited relations they have been good trading partners over the years and Pakistan has also received economic support in the form of financial and technical assistance.