Multan – September 14, 2022: The United States Government, in partnership with the Punjab Provincial Government opened the two-day Private Sector Forum to unleash private sector investment opportunities in key sectors in South Punjab. Hosted at the Mian Nawaz Sharif University in Multan, participants included members of the South Punjab private sector, key government of Pakistan departments, and overseas investors.
The Private Sector Forum was designed in coordination between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Multan, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanewal, D.G. Khan, and Vehari; and the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade. The first day of the Forum focused on textiles and agriculture, while the second day focused on energy and technology.
“We all know that South Punjab has immense economic potential. Empowering South Punjab’s economy will not only help the local population, but it will also have a positive spillover impact on the Pakistani economy as a whole,” said William Makaneole, U.S. Consul General in Lahore. The Consul General recognized the strong collaboration between the U.S. Government and the private sector in designing this year’s forum.
“Private sector engagement is one of the key priorities for USAID in Pakistan, and we engage with the private sector in multiple ways to address development challenges in the country,” said USAID Pakistan Mission Director Reed Aeschliman. “We understand the hurdles impeding the economic growth of the region but through joint efforts with the Government of Punjab and major public and private sector partners, we can overcome these impediments.”
The Minister for Agriculture represented the Punjab government at the Forum. The Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Energy and the Federal Minister for Textiles joined the opening session virtually and delivered remarks. More than 100 participants from the public and private sector also attended the plenary session.
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