RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: Chairman Overseas Pakistan Solidarity (OPS) Malik Javaid Ahmed said expatriate Pakistanis are making serious efforts for the solidarity, development and prosperity of Pakistan.

He said that from the platform of OPS, they have started practical efforts to help Pakistan in the resolution of its social problems in addition to attracting maximum Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Pakistan.

He visited Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) along with a 10-member delegation to explore opportunities of cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations between the two organizations. During a meeting with senior vice president Rana Sikandar Azam, he said that the expatriate Pakistan living in different parts of the globe share the same sympathy for the mother land and they wanted to make it a fully developed and prosperous country where people could have all basic amenities. He told that the expatriate Pakistanis have also direct links with the foreign investors and they are in a position to convince them to invest in Pakistan.

He said, however, in this connection, the chambers of commerce and industry should play their proactive role as the foreign investors cannot afford the bureaucratic attitude of the government departments. He said that Pakistan is a blessed country. We have still huge untapped natural resources which could bring prosperity to the nation provided these are explored and utilized in best interest of the country.

However, he said that despite of much positivity, our exports, FDI and foreign remittances are declining and it is a matter of concern for all of us.

Malik Javaid Ahmed said that they are fully prepared to play their role for the economic revival of Pakistan from the platform of OPS and the purpose of his visit to FCCI is to establish workable relations with the business communities of Faisalabad. He told that he had earlier visited LCCI and wanted that all chambers should corporate with OPS in launching welfare projects as well as attracting maximum FDI. He expressed concern over the sick industrial units of Faisalabad and assured that he will convince expatriate and foreign investors to launch joint ventures so that sick units could be revive and contribute their role in the overall development of Pakistan. Senior vice president (SVP) FCCI Rana Sikandar Azam welcomed Malik Javaid Ahmed and said that his positive approach is highly appreciable. He requested Malik Javaid to present their proposals in black and white so that these could be discussed in executive body of FCCI before taking appropriate action on these. He assured that FCCI will fully protect the investment made by expatriate or foreign investors in local projects through FCCI.

Dr. Amina Fatima President OPS Punjab along with other office bearers also participated in the meeting.