While speaking to the business community and journalists in Colombo on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan is taking head on the challenges of acute energy shortages and terrorism.
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The Premier went on to say that Pakistan desires good economic relations with Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s economy grew 4.2 percent in fiscal 2015, but investors remain wary of systemic weaknesses, the central bank said last month, urging the government to adopt clearer, more consistent policies on industry and trade. He said Pakistan’s economic performance is also being appreciated by the global rating agencies. He urged upon the Sri Lankan investors to tap this potential and also consider about setting up coal-based power plants.
The prime minister said that SAARC was an important regional hub and its member states should closely collaborate with each other for the benefit of their peoples.
He stressed the need for resolution of tariff issues by Sri Lankan authorities, noting the same would facilitate the Pakistani businessmen in maintaining export of their products to Sri Lanka.
The main achievement, he said was that Sri Lanka itself was taking interest to improve trade relations with Pakistan.
The Prime Minister’s delegation included Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan, Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and National Security Advisor Lt Gen (R) Nasir Khan Janjua.
The major components of the exhibition will be business to business meetings and the Pakistani Food Festival.
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These MoUs were signed at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
