‘K-P can boost regional trade’

Indian High Commissioner says his country is focused on improving ties

PESHAWAR: Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan believes Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa can play a vital role in trade relations between his country and Central Asia.

Speaking at a press conference at the K-P Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) on Wednesday, Dr Raghavan who is visiting Peshawar said the Indian government is focused on revamping economic relations with Pakistan. This is the first visit of an Indian diplomat to the province after a gap of nine years.

The high commissioner said although a lot has changed over the past few decades, very little has improved in terms of economic progress. “The South Asian Free Trade agreement, signed in 2010, was also not successful and didn’t increase trade between the two countries,” he added. Businessmen asked for access to the markets of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and other South Asian countries, under the South Asian Free Trade agreement.Former KPCCI president Zahidullah Shinwari said India is not giving them access to these nations. He added Pakistan, in response, was not giving New Delhi an inroad into Afghanistan.

The former KPCCI president acknowledged that the nuclear powers had their differences, but encouraged efforts to normalise ties. “Though India has given Pakistan MFN status, few efforts were made to provide the equivalent facilities,” said KPCCI President Fawad Ishaq. “There is an urgent need to remove tariff and non-tariff hurdles that affect bilateral trade.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2015.