ISLAMABAD - Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday said that the businessmen of Pakistani origin abroad could take advantage of the tremendous opportunities being offered in the country.

He was talking to a delegation of Pak-USA Business Forum, led by Hafeez Khan, which called on him here. The finance minister said that the government had been able to achieve an economic turnaround in the country within the last three years. “The country was now conducive for investment, as the government was focused on promoting economic growth.”

He invited Pakistani American businessmen to come forward and invest in the country.

Members of the delegation complemented the finance minister on the achieving macroeconomic stability. They expressed interest in investment opportunities in the small and medium enterprises and suggested that foreign investors of Pakistan origin should be facilitated for making investment in the country.

Finance Minister directed Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) to provide all possible facilitation to the members of the business forum in their efforts for attracting investment in Pakistan. Chairman BoI and senior officials of Ministries of Finance and Commerce attended the meeting.

Pakistan top emerging economy among South Asian markets: AMC

Another international rating agency has reckoned Pakistan among the top emerging South Asian economies owing to continuity of policies and political stability.

Atlantic Media Company (AMC) of the United States has ranked Pakistan as comparatively stronger economy in South Asian markets and expected it will grow rapidly during days ahead.

According to Atlantic's report, the Pakistan government's investment in infrastructure and other developmental projects has caused country's GDP to grow.

"It is acknowledged internationally that Pakistan is surfacing as `market leader'. Current economic conditions of Pakistan are attracting foreign investors," the AMC noted.

It said, last month American stock index firm MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) also inducted Pakistan in 10 most emerging economies in the world.

It said security situation in Pakistan has also improved resulting in economic stability. Moreover, $46 billion investment in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will help Pakistan overcome the chronic problems like power crisis and unemployment.

According to the report, Pakistani economy has been ranked as the best among all the South Asian countries including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Earlier, Bloomberg has already declared Pakistan as `Asian Tiger' in its recent report while Moody's had revised Pakistan's ratings upward, from C to B.