"Media coverage of Pakistan has been dominated by its political crisis and the now unfortunately regular spate of suicide attacks including the assassination of the prominent opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.:

"Or that in a year (2007) when the country experienced the highest levels of political turmoil and security breaches, its largest stock exchange, the KSE with 670 companies listed would be up an impressive 40% and that the average dividend yield of its stocks would be 6%. "

"The World Bank annually releases an Ease of Doing Business ranking which provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 178 countries. Its 2008 report showed Pakistan’s ranking (#76) as better than the emerging markets of China (#83) and India (#120). It was also identified as one of the leading reformers during 2005-08 and within OIC member countries was only behind Egypt in terms of the number of new business friendly reforms."

"With a large and growing population of 160 million, its real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has grown at almost 7.0% for the last 3 years and is expected to be at 6.5% for 2008. Meanwhile the most recognized indicator of a nation’s prosperity – its GDP per capita, is expected to cross US$1,000 this year – and US$2,000 by 2014, according to local financial services firm BMA Capital. Similarly, middle class incomes are rapidly growing and consumer spending consequently growing above 10% CAGR for last 3 years. "

__________________________

Ijaz Tareen
Chairman
The Tareens Group
Tax-ID: 2709699-8 (NTN)