Singapore private sector keen to invest in diverse fields in Pakistan

Prime Minister of Singapore Hsien Loong Lee on Friday said his country’s private sector was keen to invest in Pakistan’s agro-based industry, small and medium sized industry and renewable and solar energy, as these promised higher returns. Talking to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here at the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting, he said his country had already made huge investment in Pakistan’s telecom sector and its entrepreneurs were identifying new areas for enhanced cooperation.
Prime Minister Lee termed the private sectors as engine of growth and urged increased interaction between the two countries for enhanced economic activity. He said economic interdependence would lead to a durable and sustainable relationship between the two business communities and the people.
Prime Minister Gilani appreciated the support of Singapore to Pakistan in its bid for a seat at the United Nations Security Council and sought a backing on its efforts to get a Full Dialogue Partnership at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Prime Minister Lee said his country would take up the matter with other member states.
He also called for increased exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries and said high-level interaction can go a long way in bringing the two peoples together.
Prime Minister Gilani also apprised his counterpart about the ownership taken by the people of Pakistan in their efforts to eliminate extremism and terrorism from the country.
In this regard, he specifically mentioned the resolution of the All Parties Conference and the united stance adopted by all the political parties of the country on the national security.
He said that support of the people for the army was absolutely critical to combat terrorism and extremism.
Regarding Pakistan’s ties with the United States of America, Gilani said Pakistan has always been urging the need to pursue the policy of 3 Ds - Development, Dialogue and Deterrence and said now they too desire resolution of the matters by pursuing a policy of reconciliation.
He mentioned the presence of over three million Afghan refugees and said Pakistan has also urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to try to settle these in Afghanistan as it was difficult to monitor the over 40,000 daily crossings.
The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Australia Abdul Malik Abdullah and senior officials.

This Articel Orignaly Published at (APP)