International investors are keen to invest in Pakistan: Sharif

Islamabad [Pakistan], Jan. 5 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that international investors are now showing keen interest for investing in the country which is a manifestation of our successful economic policies and investor friendly environment. Sharif made these remarks in a high level meeting in which he was briefed on the progress made in the recently held 6th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on CPEC that was held in Beijing on 29 December 2016. The Prime Minister was briefed that agreement on 300 MW power project has been signed and the project will be started soon. Moreover, Gwader water supply project, hospital, technical institutes and mass transit railway project in the provincial headquarters were also discussed in JCC at China. It was further briefed that China has agreed to consider and examine Indus Cascade projects in CPEC. Sharif congratulated the Water & Power Ministry for securing the US D 1.5 Billion Lahore - Matiari Transmission Line project agreement to be funded under CPEC and directed to actively pursue its implementation. He also felicitated the Pakistani team for inclusion of Mass Transit projects in the four provinces and directed Railways Minister to facilitate the province's by giving his ministires technical advice for project feasibilities. "Road connectivity projects will open up under-developed areas of Pakistan to investment," said Sharif. Overall, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the progress of CPEC projects. About establishment of Industrial Parks, Sharif directed Federal Authorities to initiate process of providing electricity, gas and telecommunication to the proposed sites. He appreciated that Provinces are represented in CPEC projects and it is important so that the benefits of these projects are equitably distributed among the Federating units. The meeting was attended by Minister Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Planning, Development & Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, Secretary to PM Fawad Hassan Fawad and other senior officials. (ANI)