ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government was struggling to establish the rule of law in the country to attract foreign investment and promote tourism.
“We are fighting a battle to reform the system. No country can prosper sans rule of law. Many countries with sufficient resources are suffering poverty just for the absence of rule of law,” the prime minister said while addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of a hotel Monday.
The hotel will be built and operated under a brand of Hilton — an American hospitality company. It will be built on land belonging to Galiyat Development Authority and leased to a local hospitality business.
With this project, Hilton is entering Pakistan after more than four decades showing confidence in the government for its friendly policies to attract foreign investment.
The prime minister, who earlier unveiled the plaque and also planted a sapling under the government’s Billion Tree Tsunami programme, said the opposition criticised the government because they did not want the establishment of rule of law.
They take advantage of the corrupt system which does not let foreign investment come to the country, he declared.
He said the country was moving ahead with a record sale of cars and growth of large scale manufacturing this year.
The prime minister said nine million overseas Pakistanis were earning more than the combined income of 220 million population, but unfortunately, their potential was never tapped.
The previous governments only thought of their own benefits and survival instead of public welfare, he added.
He said wealth creation was the dire need that would ultimately generate jobs, enhance tax collection and lead to the repayment of foreign debts.
He said in order to attract investment from overseas Pakistanis, it was essential to introduce incentives and ensure protection as they had earlier lost trust due to corrupt practices in the country.
He said Pakistan’s exports would reach $30 billion this year, whereas Singapore had touched the $300 billion mark and Malaysia $200 billion.
Imran said efforts should be made to attract investment from overseas Pakistanis unless the exports reached the desired level.
He said owing to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s efforts for the promotion of tourism, the poverty level declined the fastest among all provinces as had also been recognised by the United Nations.
He said the construction of a hotel in Nathia Gali would attract more investment and promote high-end tourism and skiing.
He said the construction of hotels would follow the development of resorts and skiing facilities. He said Pakistan had also great potential for skiing owing to prolonged snowy conditions.
The prime minister said the KP government had introduced zoning regulations in the province to provide land for hotels and resorts at low cost comparing the private sector.
On the occasion, Mumtaz Muslim, an overseas Pakistani investor constructing the hotel, said he had left the country in 2004 following threats, but having impressed by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s dream of Naya Pakistan, he had decided to invest again in the country.
He said the Hilton had returned to Pakistan after 42 years, which would prove to be a step forward for the promotion of tourism. He said the project would cost $25 million and take three years to complete besides creating about 600 jobs.
He also proposed the government to offer public lands for hotels and industries for an enhanced lease period of 99 years.
