FIRST MEETING ON THE PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL INITIATIVES
16 February 2006: First meeting on the President's Special Initiatives on investment was held at President's Camp Office, Rawalpindi. The meeting was presided over by the President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf. The Minister for Industries and Production Mr. Jahangir Khan Tareen, Minister of State for Privatization, Investment and Special Initiatives Mr. Umer Ahmed Ghuman were present besides the Federal Secretaries and Vice Chairman Planning Commission. The meeting was also attended amongst other investors by Mr. M. Dawood Khan, Chief Executive and Ms. Mahreen D. Khan, Director, Prime Transport Limited. While briefing the President of Pakistan Mr .M. Dawood Khan gave a detailed presentation of the project, which envisages to set-up a plant for assembly/manufacture of famous ‘Black Cabs' of U.K. locally and operate the said taxis as Satellite Controlled Taxi Service in all major cities of Pakistan.
He explained that the object of PTL is to change the transport culture of Pakistan thereby providing for most civilized transport facilities to the commuters, which will not only be comfortable, safe, but also economical. The proposed project will not only boost up the soft image of Pakistan but will also be highly job intensive.
Mr. Dawood Khan informed the President that while the Board of Investment under the able guidance of Mr. Umer Ahmed Ghuman was extending unprecedented support to the investors, there were several bottlenecks in smooth implementation of the project, which needs to be checked both on Federal as well as Provincial levels.
The project was discussed in greater details and the meeting expressed its satisfaction on the progress so far made. The President of Pakistan appreciated the efforts and expressed his keen desire to make the project a success. He acknowledged that the Black Cabs were most prestigious mode of public transport in the United Kingdom. Its introduction in Pakistan is most desirable initiatives, which must be appreciated and encouraged.
He directed the concerned Ministries to iron out all impediments in implementation of the project and directed the concerned quarters to grant the concessions, licenses and permission asked for by the PTL on fast track basis.
This being the first high level meeting regarding initiatives on investment, it was given a wide coverage by National and International press. The investors including Mr. M. Dawood Khan were interviewed by the print and electronic medias, which interviews were relayed by various national and international T.V. channels. Mr. Dawood expressed that the meeting was heart warming and the keen interest being taken by the President and the Government of Pakistan in promotion of investments and industrialization not only provides for a congenial atmosphere for investments but will go a long way in development of Pakistan. Replying to a question he informed that the operations will be fully Satellite Controlled, whereby the taxis will be available on call by any means I.e. telephone SMS or e-mail at the door steps of the commuters and the fare will be charged at the same rate as applicable to the other Taxis.
