Pakistan’s investment profile improved due to CPEC: Ahsan

Federal Minister Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said, Pakistan's profile improved enormously in terms of investment destination because of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) coupled with the improved economic indicators and law & order situation across the country.

Under Vision-2025, we are restructuring portfolio of our productive sectors on cluster-based approach to transform agriculture, industry and mineral sectors. Minister Planning & Development stated this in a meeting with a delegation of Abraaj Group, which called on him at the ministry's office. He described Pakistan as an attractive investment destination with launch of CPEC and said that Pakistan's perception has changed drastically in 2015 from 2013 when country was labelled as the most dangerous in the world.

"The world now recognizes Pakistan as next emerging success story". Ahsan Iqbal said that country now needs to capitalize the changed perception of country in the world. For it, present government is launching "Brand Pakistan" campaign to remove the country's misconceptions in the world. We have also declared 2016 as year of "Productivity, Quality & Innovation" for achieving competitiveness in the international market.

Ahsan Iqbal maintained that we are mobilizing the indigenous resources to develop an export thrust for the economy. Minister also highlighted Vision2025, which lays out a roadmap for taking the country into top twenty five economic of the world by 2025. "The target is ambitious but achievable if government, private sector and academia synergize their efforts to achieve to eight percent growth rate annually in next ten year", he stated. Ahsan Iqbal said that government values Pakistani diaspora's contribution in development of energy sector in Pakistan.

He said K-Electric - subsidiary by Abraaj Group - has experience in reform of transmission and distribution of system of electricity in Karachi and said that learning should be shared across energy sector. Around 10,000 MGW of electricity would be added in the national grid by 2018. This additional power can be supplied only through timely upgradation of transmission and distribution system by 2018. He proposed KElectric to organize a seminar by inviting CEOs of all Discos to discuss the challenges in upgrading transmission and distribution system and the way forward in this regard.

Minister also sought

the

help

of Abraaj Group for institutionalizing contribution by the best human resource of the country living abroad in the economic development through sharing their expertise and experiences. Planning Commission has adopted a participatory panning approach to provide private sector and diaspora an opportunity to play their role in shaping future of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal said that government places human resource development on priority and will launch a national level enrolment campaign this year to ensure hundred percent enrolment of school-going children by 2018. Prime Minister and all Chief Ministers will lead this campaign to show strong commitment to the education. He stated this while talking to Ms. Joanna Reid, Head of Department for International Development (DFID) Pakistan, who called on him at Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform.

Ahsan Iqbal appreciated the contribution of DFID in education and governance fields of Pakistan and held the view that country would welcome more DFID's contributions in these fields in future. He said that education is part of its 4Es pledged in PML-N manifesto, which includes education, energy, economy and fighting extremism.