Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali firmly rejected western misperception of Pakistan being an extremist society in an interview to 'South China Morning Post' published in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
He told the publication during his recent visit that the perception of Pakistan as a place of extremism and fundamentalism was totally misplaced.
The Paper quoted him as saying that there were some problems but fixing them was a matter of time - not if, but when. "Come and see for yourself," the prime minister advised the interviewer, Peter Kammerer.
"We are fighting terrorism. Islam is a moderate religion - it lets you live in peace and gives a chance to go ahead in life", he was quoted as saying.
The interviewer, in his story based on the Jamali's interview, praised his sincerity in putting up a case for Pakistan as a country that international investors need not have second thought about pouring in their dollars.
"His deep, authoritative voice assured that you could safely buy a used car from this man and it would still work the next morning," the interviewer said about Prime Minister Jamali.
The report also referred to Jamali's "arduous" task of convincing the Hong Kong businessmen that "Pakistan's darkest days, punctuated by political upheaval, bombings and wars with rival India, were behind, and that the future is rosy."
Responding to a question, the prime minister said that democracy in Pakistan was back on track and fully functioning.
All Pakistanis, he said, wanted democracy in Pakistan, but the western version of democracy was not acceptable to them. "Why does the west expect that Pakistani democracy would follow the pattern of western democracy?, Prime Minister Jamali asked.
Prime Minister Jamali explained that Pakistan is an Islamic country, and it has to follow the norms of the religion which has a complete code of life, he said, adding democracy, after all, had undergone different permutations around the world - even in neighbouring countries like France and Germany it was different, and how it evolved in Pakistan was a matter of what Pakistanis wanted and needed.
The prime minister also spoke on Pakistan's relations with other countries. According to the paper, Jamali suggested that relations with the US should be a long-term venture whereas ties with China, the country's long-term and firmest ally would continue to strengthen, he added.
He also spoke of the ongoing process of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve all their disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir.
Prime Minister Jamali also highlighted the country's potential which offer best of the opportunities to the foreign businessmen to invest in Pakistan.
He listed oil and gas, agriculture, mineral, fisheries and information technology sectors, all coupled with good communications and infrastructure, as areas for investment that promise high return on capital.
Jamali also outlined Pakistan's geographical position, between east and west and part of Asia, the world's economic powerhouse for the 21st century.
To a question, the prime minister said there was no conflict between his role and that of President General Pervez Musharraf.
"If you work within the parameters of the constitution, things will be fine," the prime minister was quoted as saying.
"If you transgress the constitution, then you're bound to falter. I have no intention to do that and neither does President Musharraf. We have a good working relationship," the Paper quoted the prime pinister as saying.