Pakistan to soon start receiving positive news: Tirmizi

DUBAI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi was hopeful that Pakistan will soon start receiving positive news regarding its economy.

The Ambassador was speaking at a dinner hosted by the Pakistan Business Council in his honour at Dusit Thani Dubai. Pakistan’s Consul General in Dubai Hassan Afzal Khan and current and former officials of the PBC were also present on the occasion.

“Positive news will start coming soon,” Ambassador Tirmizi said. “We are doing our utmost to attract foreign investment to Pakistan. We have had discussions with world’s major investors and holding meetings with officials of various chambers of commerce in the UAE and other countries’ business groups is a continuation of our efforts.”

While acknowledging that the country is going through tough times, Ambassador Tirmizi was hopeful that Pakistan’s future is bright. “By the grace of Almighty Allah, we will get out of this difficult situation soon,” he said.

Tirmizi informed the audience that there are groups interested in investing in Pakistan’s IT sector.

He lauded the Pakistan Business Council’s contribution towards making Pakistani products accessible to the international market. “PBC is doing a commendable job,” he said.

The Ambassador said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held fruitful meetings with delegations of the UAE’s various chambers of commerce, who have expressed interest in investing in Pakistan.

He said the PM also instructed a PBC delegation to play its role in bringing more investment to Pakistan and introducing Pakistani products to the global markets. “Work on it has already started at a rapid pace,” Tirmizi said.

The Ambassador also urged overseas Pakistanis to send remittances to the country as “it is an important part of our economy”.

Consul General Hasan Afzal Khan said Pakistan and UAE had strong, brotherly relations and the two countries will always stand by each other in all situations.

He especially mentioned the UAE’s efforts in providing relief to the Pakistani flood victims. “UAE is also facilitating around 1.7 million Pakistanis living here in every way possible,” he said.

Hemani Group Chairman Mustafa Hemani, a member of the PBC Central Committee, welcomed Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and Consul General Hasan Afzal Khan.

He said due to the diplomatic efforts new avenues of investment will soon open in the country. He said the government had an excellent working relationship with the PBC that will strengthen further to pull Pakistan out of the current difficult situation.

Hemani also informed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will soon make him an overseas adviser in order to increase exports and to act as a bridge between the government and the business community.

Addressing the ceremony, PBC Vice President Nafees Ahmed congratulated the newly-elected officials of the Pakistan Business Council and paid tributes to the services of the previous officials.

Former PBC president Ahmed Shekhani, Sultan Mehmood, Mustafa Sultan Khawaja and others also spoke on the occasion.

PBC’s main member Khurram Khawaja, Pakistan Overseas Community Global Chairman Syed Salim Akhtar, Head of Elixar Group Ali Rao, Ejaz Ahmed, Head of Property Linkers Adnan Rashid Memon and others also attended the function.