ISLAMABAD (APP) - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday said the government was fully committed to the development of telecom sector and took initiatives aimed at supporting mobile sector to leverage its strength for the growth of economy. Talking to a delegation of GSM Association Board and CEOs of mobile operators in Pakistan headed by Robert Conway CEO GSM Association, the Prime Minister said Pakistan had become a destination for investments in IT and attracted US$ 9 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which clearly reflects the confidence of investors. The Prime Minister said telecom sector was a high potential area as more and more people were subscribing to mobile telephone services. He said major telecom companies of the world were investing in Pakistan and increase in teledensity in the country created growth opportunities in the telecom sector. He said due to demand of telephony, both mobile and fixed, has created excellent investment opportunities leading to increased inflow of foreign investment in telecommunication sector. With growing use of internet, cellular phones and broadband the demand for data and voice connectivity services was increasing rapidly, he said. The Prime Minister said opening up of telecommunication sector, the competitive and comparative advantage due to availability of highly skilled human capital, world-class infrastructure and reduced cost of doing business had stimulated phenomenal growth and attracted investments. The Prime Minister praised the mobile industry for its success in building a world-class infrastructure, creating employment opportunities and attracting further investments to Pakistan. He hoped that rapid growth in the mobile industry would continue uninterrupted. The Prime Minister was informed that the number of mobile phone users in Pakistan had increased phenomenally and this figure was expanding by almost one million subscribers every month. The teledensity in the country had increased to 58 percent of the population which was highest in South Asia. As a result, the total number of fixed and mobile subscribers had reached from 8 million in 2003 to over 85 million in 2008 with major contribution coming from the mobile sector. Pakistan continues to be one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world where in the last year mobile industry invested close to US$3 billion. The delegation assured the Prime Minister that the mobile industry will continue to work with the government for the rapid provision of state of the art information and communication services in Pakistan, with a heightened focus on empowering rural communities. The delegation informed the Prime Minister that Group Special Mobile Association (GSMA) is a global trade association founded in 1987 and represents more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 217 territories and countries the world over. He was further briefed that more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the association's initiatives as associate members. The Prime Minister was informed that GSMA was primarily focusing on two areas which include emerging services and emerging markets of the world. Over 2 billion people around the globe subscribe to GSM based cellular mobile services. GSM technology has shown huge growth representing over 80 percent of the world's mobile market.