Prince Al Waleed bin Talal al-Saud on Sunday said Pakistan has a very conducive investment climate offering many opportunities to foreign investors. Talking to newsmen after his talks with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here at the PM House, Prince Waleed, one of the top richest men in the world, described the business environment in Pakistan as positive. He said the country was witnessing an economic boom, owing to the political stability brought in by the efforts of President Musharraf and the integrity through Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Prince Waleed said, "the investment climate is very conducive. I am here not as a brother of Pakistan or as a Muslim, but also as an investor."

"We have many companies working in various fields and we will look at any opportunity, which serves our interests and those of Pakistani people and its government," he added.

To a question, Prince Waleed said the structural reforms undertaken by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were very positive.

The Prime Minister on the occasion said Prince Waleed represents a spirit of entrepreneurship in the Muslim world.

"He represents the ability to invest the world over, runs his affairs professionally and is a leading force in the world of tourism, information technology, entertainment and media," Shaukat Aziz said.

The Prime Minister said Waleed's visit would strengthen the "multi-faceted" and brotherly ties with Saudi Arabia.

He said Pakistan offered numerous growth opportunities for investment with good returns.

Prince Waleed said he was looking forward to his talks with President Musharraf and other leaders over the next two days and would look at the opportunities available.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005