This is with reference to your report of March 4 titled “A little bit of Norway lives in Kharian”.
LAHORE: This is with reference to your report of March 4 titled “A little bit of Norway lives in Kharian”.
After over 40 years of bilateral ties and cooperation between Pakistan and Norway, the scope of joint ventures and cooperation remains very vague. There is little physical trade and investment between the two countries and Norwegian laws remains restrictive and isolationist for Pakistani business.
After the nuclear tests of the 1990s, Norway also imposed a ban on defence-related trade and cooperation between the two countries. These bans are still in place to this date.
Hence there should be a realistic calculation where Pakistan-Norway cooperation stands at this stage in time and instead of giving aid to Pakistan, Norway should trade with Pakistan on equitable terms and conditions.
Amir Iftikhar Warraich
Former President
Pakistan-Norway Association
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2012.
