Billions of dollars of investment made by more than 10,000 Pakistanis in Bangladesh is facing uncertainty in the wake of tense situation ahead of next parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. Experts monitoring the situation, however, say although the situation poses some risk of loss to the Pakistani investors, it will ultimately benefit the overall economy of Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported on Friday.
They said the situation, if prolonged, on the one hand would discourage further Pakistani investment in Bangladesh, and on the other hand encourage Pakistani investors to come back home to cash in on the benefits to be offered by the newly-acquired GSP plus status from the EU.
The ministry of commerce has not received any complaints so far about difficulties faced by Pakistani investors in Bangladesh. The experts say the situation is not likely to continue for long.
Former finance minister Salman Shah also agreed that the situation can have impact on the Pakistani economy but only for a brief period, as it seems to be part of the election campaign in Bangladesh.
He said some statements had created concerns among the Pakistani community there, and if the hatred spreads, Pakistani investors could come back home.
Former consultant of the Ministry of Finance, Saqib Sheerani, said the situation for Pakistanis in Bangladesh was tense but so far no Pakistanis working there had reported any incident of targeting them. ‘Pakistanis there are concerned, but they have not been affected yet.’
Sheerani said strikes in Bangladesh were affecting the industry’s production at an unprecedented scale. According to official statistics, Pakistanis have taken about $500 million abroad, a big chunk of which is in Bangladesh because of many concessions there.
Another positive aspect of the low production of the industry in Bangladesh, Sheerani says, is that the demand for Pakistani products in the international market can grow. Pakistan may use this situation to increase its exports, he remarked.
Former vice-president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Suhail Altaf, said Pakistanis had invested $2 billion in Bangladesh in the textile, leather and garments sector.
He said although they were facing uncertainty and had an alternative now that Pakistan has become more attractive after the GSP plus status, bringing back the investment would not be possible in a short period.
He said if the situation remained the same and there are threats to the lives and property of Pakistani investors, the investment could return.
-With New Age input
