The country is witnessing low influx of foreign investment, thus government should give comprehensive plans and insurance guarantees to overseas Pakistanis to encourage them to invest in the country, said Mr.ZahidMaqbool, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry while presiding over a meeting at ICCI.

Overseas Pakistanis are contributing a great deal in terms of remittance of foreign exchange but their role must be enhanced through participation in growth oriented projects and government engaging Pakistan’s missions abroad must provide them feasibilities of various projects for profitable returns of investment in Pakistan.

President said that a large number of Pakistanis are interested to invest in the country but due to lack of information on investment projects, they do not come forward to invest. He said that joint venture investments must be encouraged and overseas Pakistani investors must also be provided insurance guarantees for their secure investments.

He said that Pakistan’s commercial section aboard should invite and give presentations to potential investors for investments in small, medium and large scale projects that will help in generating economic activity and employment in the country. Focus of the investments should be growth oriented project instead of stagnant investments, he said.

China opened up its economy in 1998 and attracted foreign investors for joint venture investments and within a very short span of time, it has fetched the highest foreign investment in the region, said Mr.ZahidMaqbool. Overseas Chinese have indeed contributed much in terms of the economic transformation of China by providing capital and connection to the outside world. Similarly Indians, apart from sending in more than US$ 50 billion annual remittances are playing a major role in bringing foreign investment in India, particularly in IT and outsource services.

He said that Pakistan can also reap multiple benefits by motivating overseas Pakistanis for enhanced investments in the country.  President said that Board of Investment must lunch a massive investment campaign abroad and present investments solutions to foreign investors.

Pakistan has become excessively dependent on external lending & aid to meet its expenditures &financial needs, whereasproblems of energy and law and order must be addressed on war footings to brining in investments, he said.