In government and B2B meetings held in Shanghai this past week between Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populated Province, efforts were made for a Pakistan-China free trade and development zone. Punjab would provide the land for free, while the Shanghai government would be invited to participate in management in addition to encouraging local businesses to invest. The invitation, which was met with some applause, would be “studied” by the Shanghai government, its spokesperson said.
Punjab could become an attractive destination for Chinese investment as the Province is Pakistan’s wealthiest and most productive, contributing over 60 percent of Pakistan’s total GDP, and lies close to trade routes to India which are now starting to show signs of opening up. Promising the new government of Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan’s Prime Minister would pay more attention to commerce and security than his predecessor, Pakistan is moving closely to a more aggressive approach to attracting FDI, including the services of Dezan Shira & Associates, who have been invited to Lahore to discuss advising on the attracting of FDI into the country, including the establishment of an English / Chinese “Pakistan Briefing” magazine to follow the same models as the “India Briefing”, “China Briefing” and “Vietnam Briefing” already part of the FDI legal / tax titles owned by a subsidiary of the firm.
Chris Devonshire-Ellis, Dezan Shira’s Senior Partner commented “We had an excellent and frank talk with Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his Ministers and we would be very interested in further discussions as regards collaboration. Our business is firmly entrenched in Emerging Asia and we see relations and business with Pakistan as key to this. With Pakistani clients already in China, and with a close relationship with one of the largest tax practices in the country we are confident that we will be able to play a part in the attracting of FDI in the Punjab and beyond. I am looking forward to being in Lahore in the very near future.”
FIVE REGIONAL CITIES should be upgraded with in the provinces in Pakistan. Regional cities of Dera Ismail Khan in NWFP, Gawadar/ Qalat in Balouchistan, Sukkar/ Larkana in Upper Sind, Jehlam/ Rawalpindi and Multan in Punjab province. These regional cities have been ignored by the federal and provincial governments although these cities have their own history, culture and languages.Dera Ismail Khan in south of Pakhtun khwa/MWFP is under seige, Multan/DG Khan in south of Punjab is next target of religious extremists,Sukkar/ Larkana is being rule by criminals, Gawadar/ Qalat is trouble some. The people of these regions have to travel to provincial capitals for every small issue and requirement of the daily life which should be provided in nearby cities. A good number of population travel to big cities for their survival to earn livelihood as the local feudal own majority land and keep the common man as their slaves. Creation of regional government and upgrading of the regional cities will save a lot of money and time of the poor people of these regions. Circuit benches of the High Courts are already working in these areas and only requirement is the additional staff of different departments involved in additional work at the provincial capitals. The concern authorities should immediately consider to upgrade the regional cities. And immediate attention should be given upgrade/build the airports,TV station, civic center, libraries,hospitals, educational institutes and investment opportunities for Pakistanis living abroad and foreign firms to create jobs in the area as majority population in rural Pakistan do not have enough resources to survive. It remind me the condition of pre Islamic revolution of Iran in Shah time when the rural Iran was ignored and the capital Tehran was developed in a way to call it Paris of Middle East with modern life style. Couple of other big cities like Isfahan and Caspian sea was taken care of because of foreign tourists but rural area was ruled by cruel police and intelligence. Then what happen rural population supported the Islamic revolution and moved to Tehran and other big cities later on. The new government after revolution developed, built and upgraded the rural areas of Iran accordingly. A fund to upgrade/build these regional cities in Pakistan should be intoduced by public and private sector and Pakistani government, our foreign friends and Pakistanis living abroad may be asked to participate in this development mission in the country..KHWAJA AFTAB ALI,( former secretary, Iranian embassy, Saudi Arabia,1975-88) Advocate High Court & I.P. Attorney-first & the only Pakistani lawyer who earned Intellectual Property laws scholarship in USA,presently residing in Florida, USA. all_languages@hotmail.com