"I will not comment on the IPI project. I do not want to make public what I would discuss with the prime minister, who was also my boss in the Citibank," he said, while replying to questions at a press conference at the US Embassy.
The questioners had sought his comments over the commitment made by Iranian President Ahmadinejad in Baku with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz that the decision on IPI gas pipeline would be taken within 90 days.
When asked, since one of the US magazines has ranked Pakistan as a failed state, but he was stressing American companies to explore investment opportunities here, Lavin said, he did not read the article but media was independent in the United States. However, the views expressed in the article have nothing to do with the official policy of his government.
"On the basis of my interaction with Pakistan and the American business community, I can say with confidence that Pakistan is opposite to the failed state," he said, adding that Pakistan's economy was booming and performing well on all fronts.
He said that there were some challenges, but Pakistan has the capability, leadership and necessary policies to keep the economy moving ahead.
"Pakistan's economic growth is among the top nations of the world and it is serving the people very well," he said.
Lavin, whose visit was the follow up of US President Bush's visit, said that his country had contributed a lot for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims, which somehow changed perception about America, but admitted that there were anti-America sentiments in the Pakistani society.
He said he has discussed bilateral economic issues, including Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), arbitration mechanism, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), WTO in the light of Doha round, adding that the government has taken several steps to discourage IPR violations, but a lot has to be done to stop this practice in pharmaceutical and optical discs.
To a question regarding Pakistan's role in Central Asia, he said that there were a lot of investment opportunities in the newly independent states and Pakistan could invest there as the US companies were also exploring the same possibilities.
"My advice to the American entrepreneurs would be that if they are serious global companies they must be serious about Pakistan as the country is on a strong path of economic development, trade barriers are being eliminated and deregulation, privatisation and liberalisation are keeping the economy moving," he said. Lavin said that there was enormous potential for the US investment in Pakistan and they need to develop a strategy to participate in marketing.
When asked that on the one hand, the US government issues different advisories to its citizens, barring them to visit Pakistan and on the other, he was asking the companies to invest in Pakistan, he said, "There are security issues in Pakistan, but there are also enormous economic opportunities."
"The people who invest in Pakistan want protection and I have discussed this issue with the Pakistani officials today," he said.
He said that the American administration is introducing legislation in the Congress to pave the way for establishment of economic zones in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Goods produced in these zones would enjoy duty-free access to the US market.
He said there was no timeframe for signing of the BIT and presently both the countries were resolving some of the issues. Signing of the treaty would convey to the world that investment in Pakistan enjoy best possible treatment and legal protection, he added.
He said that Pakistan's exports enjoy open access to the United States. Pakistan's exports to the US grew from $2.9 billion in 2004 to $3.3 billion in 2005, showing 10 percent increase. He said that last year the United States had a trade deficit of $2 billion with Pakistan.
He said the Pakistan-US economic and trade ties are moving in the right direction.
When asked to comment on Pakistan's desire to become a trade corridor for Central Asia and China, he said, it is in the interest of both Pakistan and the United States to have closer economic linkages with the Central Asian Republics. Pakistan offers constructive platform for economic activity in Central Asia, he added.