LAHORE: Service Long March (SLM) Tyres, a Chinese-Pakistani joint venture, has decided to invest an additional Rs300 billion in Pakistan that will help create new job opportunities and increase its exports, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.

The development came during Service Long March Tyres Chairman Jin Yongsheng’s meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the eastern city of Lahore.

SLM Tyres, a joint venture of Servis Group and Chaoyang Long March, is Pakistan’s first all-steel radial tire manufacturer for trucks and buses. It aims to provide “best value for money” tires to Asian and Western countries.

During the meeting, Jin lauded the Pakistani government’s investment-friendly policies and appreciated measures to prevent smuggling, the state-run APP news agency reported.

“Jin Yongsheng said that the new investment would help produce 1000 new jobs whereas the company’s exports from Pakistan might also reach $100 million annually by 2025,” the report read.

SLM ownership comprises 51 percent shareholding of Servis Group, 44 percent of Chaoyang Long March Co. Ltd. and 5 percent of Myco Corporation. The $300 million venture has been given the status of Sole Enterprise Special Economic Zone (SESEZ) by Pakistan.

Pakistan, which narrowly averted a default last year, thanks to $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, is currently looking to attract foreign investment to support its fragile, $350 billion economy.

Over the last one year, the South Asian country has signed investment deals worth billions of dollars with friendly countries.

During Friday’s meeting, PM Sharif welcomed the decision of Service Long March Tyres Group to expand its operations in Pakistan, saying his government was taking measures on priority to boost investment in the country.

“A comprehensive framework was being shaped up to further facilitate the business community and the investors,” Sharif was quoted as saying.