Pakistan, India: New trade routes will give a push to ties, says diplomat

Raghavan stresses better interaction between high commission and Karachi chamber.

KARACHI:

Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan has called on Delhi and Islamabad to talk about opening more trade routes including the Khokhrapar-Monabao border point in a bid to give a push to business ties between the two countries.

Speaking to businesspersons at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday, he stressed that Pakistan and India needed a peaceful neighbourhood, a must to overcome the challenges being faced by the two countries.

Raghavan suggested that in order to improve interaction between the commercial section of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and the KCCI, the possibility of providing a video-conferencing facility could certainly be considered.



The high commission’s visa section could be linked with the KCCI via video-conferencing, which would improve interaction between officers of the commercial section and KCCI representatives on a fortnightly basis, he pointed out. “It will help in instantly resolving issues being faced by the business people in Karachi.”

India will also arrange a visit of representatives of Pakistan’s chambers of commerce and industries to its Attari border to allow the businessmen see the customs and trade infrastructure and give suggestions.

Apart from this, the high commission is planning to organise an event titled “Doing business in India” in an effort to highlight the trade policy adopted by the new Indian government.

Former KCCI president Siraj Kassam Teli underlined the need for addressing political, economic and other issues between the two countries. “Though a host of positive developments have taken place, we have not been able to realise the true potential and move forward,” he said.

Teli asked business communities of the two sides to press their governments to address the political issues, particularly the Kashmir and water disputes and other pressing issues, without any delay. “We must come up with a feasible strategy on how to overcome the challenges.”

He pointed out that businessmen and industrialists of India and Pakistan were keen to enhance trade ties, but the governments and bureaucracies were not allowing it to happen.

Businessmen Group Vice Chairman Zubair Motiwala stressed that in order to strengthen trade relations, both sides must make efforts to segregate politics and economy. “This will provide the business communities the liberty to decide how they want to do business with each other.”

KCCI President Abdullah Zaki praised the support extended by the Indian government and the high commission during his recent trip to New Delhi for taking part in the “Alishan Pakistan” exhibition.

“This important event provided us an opportunity to promote Pakistani goods, hold business-to-business meetings, identify potential sectors and strengthen trade and investment ties,” he said.

Commenting on commerce between the two sides, Zaki said trade balance had remained in favour of India. Pakistan exported goods worth $422.94 million to India in fiscal year 2013-14 against exports worth $328.62 million a year earlier.

On the other hand, goods imported by Pakistan amounted to $1.758 billion compared to imports valuing $1.673 billion in 2012-13.

He blamed trade hurdles for unbridled informal trade through smuggling along with gross misuse of personal baggage scheme.

Zaki suggested that trade promotion initiatives could give a boost to bilateral ties with the signing of institutional agreements for developing check posts and sea and trade routes. An easy visa issuance process and setting up of swift customs clearance systems would also aid in enhancing the trade volume.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2014.

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