CM says KP govt working to improve business structure

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has stated that the provincial government is working on improving the overall business structure through ease of doing business to create conducive business environment for investors from China and other countries in the sectors of renewable energy, information technology, small/medium hydel project, mines and minerals, tourism, agriculture, livestock and light manufacturing sectors.

Addressing the Chinese and Pakistani investors delegations at the Chief Minister’s House, Mahmood Khan stated that through the development of Rashakai and other special economic zones, the provincial government will be able to create an environment where business-to-business and joint ventures will take place thereby increasing the prospects for investment in the province.

A delegation of 45 investors from China met with their business counterparts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Chief Minister’s House to discuss and deliberate on avenues of mutual interest and investment.

The delegation included representatives from aircraft manufacturing, housing technology, construction engineering, energy-saving, environment technology & engineering, environment protection technology, energy technology, green & energy, poverty evaluation service, investment polling, high tech entrepreneurship, enterprises group and others.

Mahmood Khan stated that the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Silk Route goes a long way when merchants from China and Central Asia used to come to Peshawar.The incumbent government is now taking all-out measures to make the province an important trans-regional hub of trade activity, he added.

The chief minister stated that through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is opening its doors for investors to the enormous natural resources and beautiful scenic sites of the province.

He said the implementation of Suki Kinari Hydel Project, Rashakai Special Economic Zone, Havelian-Thakot Highway, Swat Expressway, Peshawar-DI Khan Expressway and the Havelian Dry port as part of ML-1 Project will bring new opportunities and prosperity to the province.

“We are creating a suitable environment for promoting eco-tourism and environment-friendly Industrialization to bring enormous employment opportunities and economic growth in the province,” he added.

The chief minister urged foreign and Pakistani business community to explore the opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the provincial government is in the process of improving the industrial as well as incentive policy to make them attractive for investors to encourage industrialisation for sustainable development of the naturally gifted province.

For economic growth and development, the provincial government is focused on value addition in the existing mining and agriculture sectors, to improve exports to large markets like China and others.

Senior Minister for Sports & Tourism Atif Khan, Minister Finance Taimur Salim Jhagra, Minister for Mines & Minerals Dr Amjad Ali Khan, Special Assistant to CM for Industries Abdul Karim Khan, Special Assistant to CM for IT Kamran Bangash, MPA & DDAC Chairman Fazal Hakeem Khan, CM’s principal secretary Shahab Ali Shah and others also attended the ceremony.