British Deputy High Commissioner calls on Deputy PM Pervaiz Elahi

Islamabad: British Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan Ms Alison Blake called on Pakistan Muslim League senior central leader and Deputy Prime Minister Ch Parvez Elahi in his office here today.

During the meeting, views were exchanged regarding bilateral relations, trade and industrial cooperation and by a large prevailing political situation in the country. British High Commission’s Political Officer Suzanne Highland and Trade and Investment Officer Jesse Mumtaz were also present on the occasion.

Talking to the British Deputy High Commissioner, Ch Parvez Elahi said that there stability in the country due to continuity of political process, general elections are expected in few months and all institutions and political parties are adequately shouldering their responsibilities regarding holding of elections in a free, fair and transparent manner. He said the country is moving towards economic development, Pakistan has remained safe to some extent from negative effects of international economic crisis, the world is also coming out of economic crisis and lots of opportunities are being created for profitable investment in Pakistan from which the British investors can benefit a great deal.

Ch Parvez Elahi invited the British investors to take maximum benefit from opportunities of investment in Pakistan adding that they would be provided all possible facilities.

Continuing, Ch Parvez Elahi said that during our tenure we had started reforms process from education and made primary education focus of our reforms, there were 64000 primary schools in the province which were improved and in five years 25 lakhs such children who had left education were enrolled back in the schools. He said that as a result of these measures, literacy rate had increased to 62 per cent from 42 per cent.

The British Deputy High Commissioner while talking on the occasion said that Pakistan is moving towards political and economic stability. She said that existing deep rooted trade contacts of Britain with Pakistan would be further promoted and strengthened.