Foreigners’ visit to remove security delusions: Teli

KARACHI: The visit of foreign delegates from various countries to attend Expo Pakistan 2015 will help in clarifying several delusions about peace and security situation in Karachi, said Siraj Kassam Teli, ex-president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
He was speaking at a dinner reception hosted in honor of foreign delegates at the KCCI, according to a statement.
“The overall security situation is not so bad and Karachi city, which is the economic and industrial hub of Pakistan, can be compared with any developed city in any part of the world,” said Teli.
He asked foreign delegates to participate in the KCCI’s forthcoming ‘12th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony’ exhibition scheduled to be organised at the Karachi Expo Center from 10 April to 12 April, 2015.
Around 800,000 visitors are likely to visit this exhibition this year, which will provide foreign delegates a perfect opportunity to not only examine Pakistani products and services but also introduce their products and hold business to business meetings with their Pakistani counterparts. The exhibition also provides recreational facilities for families visiting the exhibition, he added. Earlier, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra said Karachi is the financial and economic hub of Pakistan, which contributes more than 68 percent revenue to national exchequer.
Ranking amongst top three biggest cities in the world in terms of population, Karachi is home to about 23.5 million dwellers, higher than the population of Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and even Australia, Vohra added.
Senior Vice President KCCI Ibrahim Kasumbi, in his presentation, highlighted the potential and role being played by the city in the economy of Pakistan.
Kasumbi identified various potential sectors in which foreign delegates can invest or undertake joint ventures.
He said textiles – yarn, fabrics and made-ups – food processing, packaging, cosmetics, hygiene products, chemicals, pharmaceutical raw materials, dairy, livestock, rice-based ready-to-cook products, logistics, infrastructure development, energy sector, including coal and renewable energy, Halal foods (meat and poultry), warehousing and cold storage are some of the areas, which offer lucrative opportunities to foreign businessmen and industrialists.