The Passport Control section of Islamabad International Airport. File photo

The Pakistan government has decided to offer permanent residency to foreign investors, especially to fetch heavy investments from wealthy Afghans, Chinese and American Sikhs, Dawn reported.

In a tweet late on Friday night, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said: "In line with new National Security Policy, through which Pakistan declared geo-economics as the core of its national security doctrine, the government has decided to allow permanent residency scheme for foreign nationals. The new policy allows foreigners to get permanent resident status in lieu of investment."

Paksitan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry speaks during an event. File photo

The government believes it will fetch billions of dollars in foreign investment by giving Pakistani nationality and proprietary rights to the foreign investors, the Dawn news report said.

An informed source said that the government wanted to attract heavy investments from the wealthy Afghan nationals who were presently investing in countries such as Iran, Turkey and Malaysia.

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They said the government also hoped that US-based Sikh nationals would be happy to make investment in different sectors in Pakistan due to their attachment with Sikh religious sites in the country, the report added.

Also, Prime Minister Imran Khan in his recent statements hinted that he wanted to attract top Chi­n­ese investors who relocated their industries to other countries in the region, according to Indo-Asian News Service.

The government also hoped that rich Arab nationals, who used to visit Pakistan every year for hunting purposes, would like to have Pakistani citizenship.