Islamabad, Nov 22: Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has discussed with President Pervez Musharraf prospects of investment in the field of information technology in Pakistan. In a telephonic conversation with the President yesterday, gates expressed "keen interest" in opportunities Pakistan offers in it and said he would like to meet Musharraf at the world economic forum in Davos early next year, reports in official media here said. Musharraf told Gates that Pakistan offered tremendous opportunities and potential in the it sector. He also told him about key strides made by Pakistan in the last few years for promoting it, including massive reduction in the bandwidth rates and materialisation of an infrastructure network. Musharraf said that remote places of the country have been connected through the internet while quality it institutions are attracting talented students.

Gates' phone call was believed to be part of US government's encouragement to its top companies to invest in Pakistan to boost the South Asian country's economy.
Bureau Report