Daily Times

BEIJING The Embassy of Pakistan hosted a road show for Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park Project (QAAP), which is a flagship project of the Government of Punjab, says a press release received on Tuesday from China.

Commercial Counsellor Dr Erfa Iqbal welcomed and thanked the representatives of 76 Chinese companies for their overwhelming support and invited Ambassador Masood Khalid to speak.

The ambassador, while addressing the delegation, said that such a strong showing reflects the Chinese goodwill not only towards this project, but also towards Pakistan.

He said that the government of Punjab has launched many projects, but this project is pivotal as textile sector is the main segment of business development and Pakistan’s economy.

He urged the Chinese entrepreneurs to explore the untapped commercial and business potential of Pakistan due to availability of cheap raw materials and manpower. Pakistan’s recent economic performance has been lauded by world financial institutions and credit rating agencies. The government has also taken special measures to provide security to about 19,000 Chinese nationals working in Pakistan on different projects.

The ambassador highlighted the geographical importance of Pakistan as being on the confluence of Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia, which has been further enhanced due to CPEC and promoted connectivity. This route will also be shorter and cost effective for Chinese trade and business.

He also informed about various incentives being offered by the government of Pakistan to the investors, but stressed the need for ensuring good quality and international standards by the investors in executing these projects. While speaking on the occasion, QAAP Project Director Shahzad Sheikh enlightened the audience about the vision and objectives of the project in detail. He said that ideal location along with availability of all necessary amenities will lead to the success of this project. The garments produced here shall be exported the world over, adding billions to the country’s GDP.