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Islamabad, March 09, 2015 (PPI-OT): The US Commerce Secretary, Ms Penny Pritzker said here Monday that US companies wished to expand business in Pakistan and the Pak-US Business Opportunities Conference was a good avenue for furtherance of this objective. Penny Pritzker along with US Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard G. Olson met the Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar exchanging views on enhancement of trade and business cooperation.
Matters relating to issuance of visas, especially to US businessmen came under discussion as Ms Pritzker emphasized facilitation in this regard would help promote business to business contacts. The Minister said established US business/commercial should not have any difficulty in securing visas for Pakistan and even generally, all visa requests were considered as provided under rules. Assuring his support, he sensitized the Pakistan Ambassador to US, Jalil Abbas Jilani about the matter.
The Minister shared important economic indicators with the US Commerce Secretary and said Pakistan’s economy was now stable. He said the government particularly focused on resolving the energy projects as it was the foremost requirement for overall economic development.
In response to Ms Pritzker’s query on ease of doing business, the Minister said a number of measures had already been taken to this effect and that BOI was contributing effectively in this sphere. He particularly mentioned simplification in procedures for tax payment and added that more such measures would be taken in future.
There was also discussion on Pak-Afghan economic cooperation. Ishaq Dar referred to his telephone talk on Sunday with the Afghan Finance Minister, Omar Zakhilwal saying he (Zakhilwal) appreciated all measures that had been taken for furtherance of Pak-Afghan economic cooperation. He also conveyed the gratitude of the Afghan President in this regard. Dar said Pakistan had undertaken important projects in Afghanistan which would be completed on priority.
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