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The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, with its present government is actively promoting trade and investment in the country to pave the way for sustained economic growth. Pakistan with positive growth trajectory over the years, despite global economic turmoil, is focusing on development and up gradation of various sectors of economy, agriculture, textile, telecom, IT, energy, power, services, construction and housing. These sectors are open for foreign investment with attractive incentives.
Our investment regime being one of the best in the South Asian Region with lucrative incentives has attracted many foreign and local investors who are satisfied with the investment regime of Pakistan. Recently, Mr. Werner Geissler, Vice Chairman Global Operations, Proctor & Gamble (P&G), in an interview said that Pakistan occupies prominent position on the investment map of Procter & Gamble, and have chosen Pakistan as a key destination in the region to cement company` s gains. P&G is well known in Pakistan through its multiple consumer product brands and had posted a consistent growth in the retail sector.
The following opportunities are available for investment in Pakistan:
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Pakistan is facing a supply-demand gap in the power sector. The gap could reach to 4000- 5000 MW during peak demand period, specially, during summers. In fact, power generation capacity could not keep pace with the fast economic growth of last few years. In order to meet the ever increasing power and energy needs, the government has identified many power generation projects which are also open for foreign investment preferably under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
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Housing is another lucrative sector for foreign investment. Pakistan is facing a cumulative deficit of 7 million houses and needs to construct 500,000 housing unit in a year.
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Pakistan is committed to modernize its public transport system with integrated approach with rail based mass transit network, linked with road, air and sea transport system to provide maximum facilities to the users.
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Opportunities in the Information Technology sector are unlimited and include development of IT incubators, joint ventures with foreign software houses, establishing internet cities and parks to achieve critical mass of high tech companies and development of computer hardware industry through transfer of technology.
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Pakistan has two-billion-tons iron ore reserves which are available for commercial exploitation. Expressions of Interest (EOls) have recently been invited for prequalification of foreign consultants for evaluation of iron ore deposits found in Province of Punjab. Iron ore reserves in Punjab amount to more than 920 million tons, out of which 780 million tons are proven reserves.
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Pakistan is one of the ancient homes known for cotton cultivation. Pakistan is 4th largest producer of cotton, the 3rd largest exporter of raw cotton and a leading exporter of yarn in the world. Cotton is not only an export-earning crop, but also provides raw material to local textile industry. This will be another sector that investors could venture into.
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Pakistan is endowed with a large livestock population well-adapted to the local environmental conditions. It includes the best dairy breeds of buffalo and good dairy breeds of tropical cattle. Poultry sector has also shown excellent growth in the last 4 decades.
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Dairy sector of Pakistan has immense potential to increase its milk production and also establish secondary industries of milk based products. This huge potential can be fully realized by establishing ultra modern dairy industry through foreign investment and joint ventures.
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Agriculture sector of Pakistan has potential for local as well as foreign investment, as farmers are now using more chemical fertilizer and modern farming machinery instead of traditional means for harvesting and cultivation. Pakistan will welcome and encourage foreign investment in agro-based industries.
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The cellular mobile Industry of Pakistan has achieved 100 million subscription mark in year 2010 due to fair and friendly policies introduced by the Government of Pakistan for the growth and development of telecom sector. The mobile sector growth in Pakistan has been extraordinary and has become a model for other countries across the world. This extraordinary achievement was made possible due to the prudent investment friendly policies of the government and provision of a fair and level playing field for local and foreign operators to infuse healthy competition in the telecom sector which ensured enlarged consumer base and better services to the consumers. The mobile services in Pakistan started in 1995 with three operators, and a meagre subscriber base of 68,038 which, however, grew by an exorbitant rate and achieved 100 million mark just in fifteen years. Government of Pakistan is committed to ensure provision of best telecom services to the citizens of Pakistan and to make telecom sector a stronger and vital asset to the national economy.
