Pakistan Envoy Calls For More Investments From Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 (Bernama) -- Pakistani High Commissioner to Malaysia Masood Khalid hopes more Malaysian companies will invest in Pakistan so that the gap in bilateral trade can be reduced. He said it might not be easy to achieve this goal but it can be done with the cooperation between the two governments. "We are buying a lot of palm oil from Malaysia. What Malaysia can do in return, for example, is initiate more construction projects in Pakistan," he told a press conference after a flag-hoisting ceremony at the High Commission here in conjunction with the 72nd Pakistan Day celebrations. "Malaysian companies have expertise in the construction field. So I think they can pick up a few more projects in Pakistan," he added. Trade between Malaysia and Pakistan reached US$2.8 billion last year, a 14 per cent increase, compared with 2010. However, Pakistan's exports to Malaysia stood only at US$257 million, tilting bilateral trade in Malaysia's favour. Khalid also claimed that numerous Pakistani products had yet to enter the Malaysian market. In his speech in conjunction with Pakistan Day, while lauding the role of the Pakistani community in "the growth and development of Malaysia,” he reminded the community that every Pakistani living in Malaysia was an "ambassador" for their country. "And it [is] binding on [the community] to work diligently for the progress and prosperity of Malaysia and Pakistan and to win the hearts and minds of [the] hosts [while staying] in Malaysia," he said. Apart from feasting on traditional Pakistani cuisines, guests were entertained to a colourful and lively performance by Pakistani schoolchildren, who presented various skits, songs and acts to showcase the culture and social customs of the people from the four provinces of Pakistan. -- BERNAMA