Islamabad August 20 2022: Ambassador of the State of Qatar Sheikh Sauod bin Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al-Thani Friday called on the Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue, Miftah Ismail here and discussed with him matters of mutual interests.
The Finance Minister welcomed the Ambassador of Qatar and highlighted about the long-standing mutual ties between Pakistan and Qatar.
He shared that present government is pursuing various reforms for providing greater facilitation to investors and businesses in Pakistan. The Finance Minister also apprised about the available lucrative investment opportunities in various sectors of Pakistan.
Earlier, Government of Pakistan decided to offer 51% stakes with the management control in the Roosevelt Hotel, New York, and the Pakistan International Airlines to Qatar.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took these decisions during a meeting convened to make preparations for his visit next week to Qatar, which is tentatively planned for August 22 to 23, highly placed sources told The Express Tribune.
PIA law bars selling more than 49% stakes and giving management control to any other party. Therefore, government decided to amend the law on immediate basis.
The sources said that it was decided that Pakistan should offer 10% stakes to Qatar in the government-owned listed companies, in line with the similar offer that it has made to the United Arab Emirates.
State Ambassador of Qatar Sheikh Sauod bin Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al-Thani also shared the warm and welcoming sentiments with the Finance Minister. It was shared the government of Qatar is planning to invest in various sectors of Pakistan especially in energy, trade and businesses for further strengthening the bilateral economic ties between both of the countries.
PM’s visit to the State of Qatar in next week also came under discussion in the meeting.
Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, while welcoming the investment proposals, assured the Ambassador of full support and cooperation by the government of Pakistan.
