Pakistan full of untapped potential, says Boris Johnson

UK foreign secretary says govt must explore ways to boost trade

LAHORE: South Asia, the home of the legendary Silk Route, now remains the least inter-connected part in the world in terms of trade. Yet it has the potential to do so much more, noted British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Friday.

He was speaking during a visit to the Government College University (GCU), Lahore where he was welcomed by Vice-Chancellor Hassan Amir Shah, who gave a tour of the varsity to the British envoy.



“Long before anyone uttered the word ‘globalisation’, an Englishman could travel to this city [Lahore] and dispatch his wares along the Silk Road, quite a long way, for sale in the Middle East,” Boris said. “Four centuries ago, Lahore was at the centre of an intricate web of trade routes that spanned the world. I am struck by how, South Asia, in trading terms, remains one of the least inter-connected parts of the world.”



The British minister said Pakistan was the geographical heart of Asia. “India, with over a billion people, lies only 15 miles away. To the West are Afghanistan and Iran, with a combined population of more than 100 million. Further north-west are the energy-rich states of Central Asia.

Pakistan is the natural junction between all of these huge markets and the immense resources at their command. And yet we must accept that neither Pakistan nor the region has quite matched the ancient genius of the Silk Roads by constructing the modern links from East to West – and West to East – that are so sorely needed.”

He said South Asia had so much in common yet its nations cooperated relatively little. He said the price (of trading) was high with restraints on trade, which was holding back economic growth and keeping millions in poverty.

“Nations succeed when they are open and outward looking,” he said. “Free trade serves as an engine not only of economic success but of progress in every sense.”



Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Johnson said the UK hoped British companies were allowed to participate in the multi-billion project. “But this should be part of an even more ambitious vision that will revive the ancient Silk Roads and see the rebirth of trading caravans connecting East and West.”

The UK envoy said bilateral trade between Britain and Pakistan was only £2.7 billion, which, he said, was not enough given the close ties between the two countries. “One reason why I was in favour of leaving the EU was that I wanted Britain to widen the horizons of our foreign policy and reinforce our ties with our friends across the world, including Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2016.