A list of chief executive officers (CEOs) of global retail giants has been finalised to arrange their meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Pakistan.

 

According to reports, said companies include Amazon, Alibaba and Walmart among others, representing several countries, including the United States (US), China, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, Netherlands and France.

 

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Haroon Akhtar Khan and Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani attended the high-level meeting that finalised the list.

 

The meeting also discussed preparations for the upcoming interaction between the premier and the CEOs of the top 20 companies. The federal ministers reviewed arrangements and the invitation process for the CEOs to meet PM Shehbaz. Participants also deliberated on strategic measures to promote investment in Pakistan and highlight the country's economic and geopolitical significance on the global stage.

 

SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasised that Pakistan holds immense strategic importance and offers vast investment opportunities across multiple sectors. He added that the premier’s upcoming meeting with the top CEOs would be a “game-changer for Pakistan's economy”.

 

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan said that trade policies were being aligned with modern global trends to ensure sustainable economic growth while Food Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the need to adopt modern technology to enhance agricultural productivity.

 

Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani noted that stability in the investment sector would lead to increased employment opportunities and sustainable economic development. He further said that the government’s outreach to ambassadors and global stakeholders was part of a broader effort to project Pakistan's positive image internationally.

 

It merits a mention that the plan comes a month after PM Shehbaz expressed commitment to transform Pakistan into an attractive destination for investment in the region through transparency and by crafting economic policies aligned with global standards.    

 

Presiding over a meeting regarding the country's economy in Islamabad in October, the premier directed relevant ministries and institutions to ensure the provision of all necessary facilities to foreign investors. He further said that the recent positive economic trends reflect the confidence of foreign investors in country's economy.

 

He termed stabilising country's economy on strong foundations as the top priority of the government, and directed the officials to ensure the participation of the private sector.

 

PM Shehbaz pledged that the government would utilise all investment opportunities to promote public welfare and increase employment opportunities, saying that ongoing economic and financial reforms had set the economy on a new course, and the country was steadily moving toward sustainable progress due to innovation and transparency.