Strengthening B2B ties among people of Pakistan, China foremost priority of govt: PM

PM Imran asked the Chinese business houses to establish their regional offices in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said that Pakistan accorded great importance to strengthening its relations with China as both countries had shared destiny.

He further said that strengthening of business-to-business ties of the people of the two countries, was a foremost priority.

The prime minister was talking to a delegation of 10 leading Chinese companies, undertaking business ventures in vital sectors including energy, communications, agriculture, science and technology, financial sector and industry, that called on him.

The delegation comprised representative of Power Construction Corporation of China (Power China), China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), China Gezhouba (Group) Pakistan, China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Company Ltd, China Railway Group Limited, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Machinery Engineering Corporation and China Mobile Pakistan Limited.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing and Javed Afridi, CEO Haier were also present. Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, Minister for Industries Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Finance Advisor Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Commerce Advisor Abdur Razaq Dawood, Chairman Board of Investment Atif R. Bokhari, Chairman CPEC Authority Lt Gen (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa also attended the meeting.

The prime minister assured the Chinese investors that his government would accord highest priority to provision of every possible facilitation to the Chinese investors. He also asked the Chinese business houses to establish their regional offices in Pakistan.

The Chinese investors thanked the prime minister for his personal interest in facilitating Chinese investors and business community in Pakistan.

The participants expressed satisfaction over the business-friendly policies of the present government, especially in improving ‘ease of doing business’.

They reaffirmed commitment to further expand their investments and explore more business opportunities in various sectors of the economy.

“Various reforms introduced at policy and implementation level have enhanced confidence of the Chinese business community and Pakistan is being looked upon as a major partner in development in the post COVID-19 environment”, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, on the occasion, said.

Pakistan s current account balance swings to surplus

Earlier, PM Imran Khan had announced that by the grace of Allah Almighty, the economy of Pakistan is on the right track.

In a series of posts on social-networking website Twitter, the premier stated, “After current account balance posted deficit of $613 million in July 2019 and a deficit of $100 million in June 2020, in July 2020 current account balance swung upwards to a surplus of $424 million.”

MashaAllah Pakistan s economy is on the right track. After current account balance posted deficit of $613 mn in July 2019 & a deficit of $100 mn in June 2020, in July 2020 current account balance swung upwards to a surplus of $424 mn.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 24, 2020

The PM further said, “This strong turnaround is a result of continuing recovery in exports, which rose 20 percent as compared to June 2020, and record remittances.” 

This strong turnaround is a result of continuing recovery in exports, which rose 20 % compared to June 2020, & record remittances.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 24, 2020