KARACHI - Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah Tuesday inaugurated International Halal Conference organised by Sindh Board Investment, at a local hotel. Addressing the inaugural session, Chief Minister Sindh said that it is gratifying to know that a number of foreign investors have earmarked Pakistan as a suitable location in the region for establishing industries. He said that we are aware that Pakistan is facing numerous challenges and one of the most important of these, is the need to put the country sincerely on the road to industrial progress, translating into socio-economic prosperity for the people of this country of more than 160 million people. Chief Minister Sindh added that Pakistans strategic location makes it convenient destination solution for setting up industrial units designed to serve the entire South Asian, Middle Eastern and Central Asian region. In addition to a disciplined and skilled labour force, the country now has a growing infrastructure of commercial ports on the strategic Arabian sea coastline, a large network of civil airports and Syed Qaim Ali Shah further said that the competitive advantage of Sindh province rests on its strategic location, as major seaports, along with its extensive industrial infrastructure, 352 km long coastline and the potential to generate renewable energy, abundant mineral resources, better educational system, a young and educated workforce and a politically strong and stable government. He said that Karachi has attraction for foreign investors and in case, we make efforts to create awareness of Halal sector potential, the investment will start flowing in. He also stressed upon Sindh Board of Investment to pool all its resources to channelise the investment in the right direction ensuring the provisioning of the required facilities to the entrepreneurs. Syed Qaim Ali Shah termed the International Halal Conference as a mega event in the history of Pakistan which will certainly drive the national objective of rapid industrialization forward and put Pakistan firmly on the road to true economic and industrial progress. Syed Qaim Ali Shah said the Board has been assigned the responsibility of promotion of investment in all sectors of economy, facilitation of local and foreign investors for speedy materliasation of their projects and enhancement of Sindhs international competitiveness and contribution to economic and social development, as the BoI is ready to accept the multifac challenges and this conference is a manifestation of their will. He also termed the conference as educative and informative, and congratulated the organisers, with prayer to serve with honesty and dedication. Earlier, Advisor to CM Sindh for Investment Zubair Motiwala, Secretary Investment Sindh Younis Dagha and Dato Sri Jamil Bedier, Chief Executive officer, Halal Industries Dev. Corporation Malaysia in their speeches highlighted the objectives and efforts so far made for International Halal conference. It was informed that 70 percent of Halal markets are run by non-Muslims mainly in Brazil, Argentines, Thailand, Japan and China while only in US, Muslims spend $16 billion. The services of renowned leader of Malaysia Mahteer Muhammad were also appreciated in the conference. The conference was largely attended by local and foreign intending investors, industrialists and businessmen.