Swiss firms should invest in tourism sector: President 

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said India’s illegal actions to alter the disputed status of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the imposition of communication blockade not only contravene numerous UNSC resolutions and international law but also blatantly violate the basic human rights.

The president was talking to President of the Council of States of Swiss Confederation Mr Jean Rene Fournier who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Tuesday.

He stressed that Jammu and Kashmir was not an internal affair of India, rather an internationally recognised dispute, pending on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council for the past seven decades.

He highlighted that the bilateral Simla Agreement that India had been presenting to the world as the sole modus operandi for resolution of bilateral disputes between India and Pakistan had failed to produce any result since 1972.

President of the Council of States of Swiss Confederation said that Switzerland was a staunch supporter of human rights and would offer its good offices for resolution of Kashmir dispute if both parties agreed, he added.

President Alvi highlighted that Pakistan attached great importance to our cordial and friendly relations with Switzerland and this year marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations.

He said that shared belief in fundamental principles of democracy, human rights, justice and rule of law had been the defining elements of the excellent bilateral relations.

The president emphasised that Pakistan valued its long-term partnership with Switzerland in economic, trade and commercial fields. He further said that the trade between the two countries had been increasing steadily, though was not yet commensurate with the true potential.

Appreciating Swiss investment in Pakistan, he underscored that the business friendly policies of the government were bearing fruit as Pakistan had gained 28 places in the Ease of Doing Business index this year.

The president emphasised that the energy demand in Pakistan had created highly profitable opportunities for the Swiss companies to invest in the renewable, hydel and clean technology power generation projects.

He highlighted that there was also investment opportunities in research and innovation to increase productivity and profitability in crops, dairy, forestry, irrigation and water management, land management, seed production and biotechnology sectors of Pakistan.

He said that growth in all industries had placed great demands on all facets of Pakistan’s air, sea, rail and road and physical infrastructure.

There is also a huge tourism infrastructure potential in Pakistan and Swiss firms could explore these investment opportunities, he added.