ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: British High Commissioner in Pakistan Robert Brinkley held meetings with several ministers on Thursday and assured them that the UK would help Pakistan getting an access to European Union markets. He also said the British companies wanted to expand their investment portfolios in Pakistan.

Talking to Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, Brinkley said the British companies were keen to expand their investments in the existing power projects and explore new avenues for investment in the alternate energy sources.

The UK envoy said that over 100 British companies were operating in Pakistan and the British were also the major investors in the power sector of the country.

He said Britain had expertise in the alternate energy projects and officials of the alternate energy development board of Pakistan will be invited to visit the UK early next year to brief the British companies on the potential of alternative energy in Pakistan.

The minister for water and power appreciated the offer of the British companies for expanding their businesses in Pakistan and welcomed their proposals to invest in the power sector. The minister stated that there was great potential in the power sector in Pakistan and the investors were getting high returns on their investment.

The minister briefed him on future energy requirements and the short and long-term measures to end the power deficit. He also asked the envoy to promote investment in the coal power generation, hydel and wind energy projects.

During a meeting with Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim the British High Commissioner assured support of his country for Pakistan’s quest for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU).

Meanwhile, Anne W Patterson, Ambassador of United States, Robert Edward Brinkley, British High Commissioner and Shin-un, Ambassador of Korea called on Senator Waqar Ahmed, minister for investment, here on Thursday.

Talking to the envoys the minister said that the government believes in level- playing field for the local and foreign investors and will frame business-friendly policies.

He said that the Board of Investment (BOI) was planning to organise an investment conference in Korea on February 9, next year, which would be largely attended by local and foreign investors. He said that it would help the Korean investors to learn about the potential investment areas in Pakistan.

Senator Waqar informed the ambassadors that the government was considering establishing special economic zones in various parts of the country.