Washington, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, has called on the Pak-US business community to escalate their investments in Pakistan, highlighting the promising prospects of the nation’s economy and its investor-friendly policies. This appeal was made during a virtual meeting with leaders from the Pakistan American Association of Greater Houston, the Pakistan American Association of Texas, and the Pakistan American Community of Atlanta. Khan emphasized the creation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) aimed at streamlining approval processes, cutting through bureaucratic red tape, and providing comprehensive support to investors.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the ambassador outlined the sectors of IT, agriculture, energy, and the extractive industry as priority areas for investment. However, he assured that foreign investors are welcome to explore other sectors and would still benefit from the same privileges and incentives. Khan highlighted the strategic advantages for US investors, including the strong ties forged by approximately one million Pakistani expatriates in the US, the successful operations of about 80 US companies in Pakistan, and the potential for further profitable ventures due to available excess capacity.

Khan pointed out that the SIFC has been successful in addressing the challenges previously faced by investors and urged the meeting’s participants to spread awareness of this initiative within the Pak-US business community. He shared success stories of Pakistani American investors in sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals, demonstrating the potential for further achievements in these fields.

The ambassador also mentioned efforts by the Pakistani Embassy and consulates in the US to create synergies and foster connections within the Pak-US business community, aiming to enhance economic activities. Khan discussed the establishment of a comprehensive database for the Pak-US business community to improve outreach and facilitation by the SIFC and highlighted the potential benefits of sister-state arrangements and university linkages, especially in the agriculture sector.

The meeting concluded with participants sharing suggestions to streamline and strengthen business and investment activities between the two countries.