ISLAMABAD: UAE-based Dubai World (DW) is planning to invest in various sectors in Pakistan and the Dubai Ports World (DP World), a subsidiary of the DW, and it is keen to get the contract for Gwadar Port management and operations, said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the DW, here on Thursday. At a press conference, with Minister of State for Privatization and Investment Omar Ahmad Ghumman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Dr Akram Sheikh and members of his delegation, he said the DW had handed over an umbrella memorandum of understanding to the Pakistan government in which the company has chalked out its plan to invest in infrastructure sector, real estate development, commercial and construction of tourist resorts in Pakistan. “Yes, we are negotiating with Pakistan on the contract for Gwadar Port operations and management. But there is nothing final so far,” said Mohammad Sharaf, CEO, Dubai Ports, which was recently denied a deal of taking over as operating agency of six US ports in the wake of stiff resistance from the US Congress. Mr Sharaf also played down the impression that his company had started negotiations with Pakistan on Gwadar Port after its failure to take charge of the US ports. The seven-member UAE delegation also held a detailed meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf. Sultan Ahmed said had very useful meeting with President General Musharraf. We have discussed various proposals, including the prospects of investing in Gwadar Port. The DP World negotiations with Pakistan on Gwadar is believed to have perturbed the Chinese government, which has invested in the development of Gwadar. Omar Ghumman said Gwadar Port must not be seen as mere port like Karachi Port and Port Qasim. The Gwadar Port will be used as corridor for energy supply to China. It will be an energy corridor for Pakistan, China and India. Apart from this, the new port will be a trade and industrial and oil transportation corridor. Landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics will get great benefit from Gwadar. Mr Ghumman said a number of US companies had expressed desire to invest in Gwadar. Replying to a question, Mr Sultan said the delegation’s present visit is actually a fact-finding mission. But it happened to be an eye-opener. “We are not here for talks on Gwadar specifically,” he said, adding that the Dubai World is expanding its investments for continued growth. He said the Gwadar Port had a bright prospect for investment. We are keen to invest. However, we are looking at the government’s plan for the development of Gwadar. If the government does not take care of development of the new port, then no investor will be coming to invest, he said. Mr Ghumman said the Nakheel Group of Companies, a subsidiary of the DW, a leading name in the the construction industry, was planning to invest in the development of real estate, construction of houses and five new cities between Islamabad and Lahore and Lahore and Karachi. The government is also interested in build five cities from Gwadar up to the Chinese border. Besides, there are plans to build new highways and tourist resorts up to the Chinese border.