Pakistan offers attractive investment opportunities: Dr. Lodhi
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief

LONDON (UK): Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Maleeha Lodhi has said her country has much to offer the world in terms of a rich cultural and spiritual heritage as well as attractive investment opportunities.

She was speaking at a ceremony organised by three British businesses to launch their Pakistan practices with an evening of Qawaali music at the Pakistan High Commission on Saturday.

“There is no better way to raise Pakistan’s cultural profile than an evening of qawaali by the Sabri brothers who represent the finest in the Sufi tradition,” she told a highly select audience comprising professionals from multinationals, community leaders, parliamentarians and business houses.

The High Commissioner spoke of the difficult challenges being faced by Pakistan but expressed her confidence that the country will be able to counter them with courage and fortitude. She urged the overseas entrepreneurs to do business in Pakistan which follows a very liberal policy and help the country to progress and develop and eradicate poverty.

Mehmood Sabri of the world famous Sabri Brothers, accompanied by poetic interpretations from Sufi scholar Amatullah Chisti Armstrong entertained the gathering with their rendering of the message of love and tolerance preached by the great Sufis Rumi and Amir Khusrau.

The three British business ventures include ARCI International which is an architecture and design firm, MMI Law, an international law firm and Wenham Major, one of the UK’s fastest growing accountancy firm sponsored the event to show their commitment and belief in Pakistan’s economy.

ARCI International Architecture and Design was founded nearly a decade ago by architect Maheen Hameed who has worked with some of the best firms in UK and Pakistan.

It handles projects ranging from commercial developments to privates homes in Pakistan,UK and world over offering specialist sustainable solutions keeping in mind the need for energy efficient architecture.

Through its offices in the UK and Pakistan, it hopes to provide expatriate Pakistanis and foreign investors a chance to develop and build their dream projects in Pakistan effortlessly without leaving UK.

MMI Law’s Pakistan office provides high quality commercial, corporate and real estate legal expertise through its multinational team and alliances world wide. It offers overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors a trusted advisor who can execute transactions on ground in Pakistan.

Wenham Major is one of the UK’s oldest accountancy firms. Through its Pakistan office and supported by its international network, it aims to provide companies particularly SMEs high quality financial and business advice .

The firm is actively encouraging investment into Pakistan and will assist the private and public sector in gaining access to financial initiatives.

Amatullah,an Australian woman who now lives in Pakistan, did the English interpretation. She has written more than five books on her remarkable journey which took her from the midst of an Australian bush land paradise to the rapture of devotion at the shrines of the Sufi saints in Pakistan and India to the discovery of Sufism and the Sabri brothers.

Her recent book ,an autobiography, ‘The Lamp of Love’ journeying with the Sabri Brothers, was recently released by Oxford University Press. According to her there is immense spiritual wealth in Pakistan.

Amatullah’s spiritual quest began in the early 80’s when she made a 5000 kilometre bicycle journey from Paris to Tunisia during which she encountered Islam.

After devoting herself to an intense period of studying the teachings of Islam and Sufism’s universal message of generosity, compassion and love of all creation, she embraced Islam and subsequently entered the Sufi path.●