ISLAMABAD: It might take a little longer for Pakistan to start blinking on the US investors’ radar. The bilateral trade volume, however, can increase by as much as 20 per cent before the current fiscal ends in June next year. This was gathered after discussing the issue with some officers manning the Asia desk at the US State Department and the Pakistan mission, as well as representatives of the private sector and academics interested in the topic.
It was , however, considered unrealistic to expect overseas investors to become active in a country where local investors were reluctant to commit resources for capital spending. However, the relevant quarters are looking forward to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the US later this month.
“We are all set to arrange business meetings during his visit to attend the UN general assembly session. There is goodwill for the PM, with his background in industry and a clear bend towards market solutions,” commented a PML-N appointee at the mission.
“Time is on his side. Much will depend how well his kitchen cabinet and economic advisors succeed in projecting the country as a responsible, resourceful and business-friendly nation that is serious in pursuing peace and development for mutual benefits.”
Trade officials also tend to assume that the renewed focus on bilateral economic relations over the past one year will pay dividends in the short run.
But businesses generally do not share their investment plans with Pakistani officials. “I know for a fact that many deals between private companies of the two countries are in the making, but we have not been informed. internews
