We are ready for a third corridor, but India should step forward: Governor

Says that the two countries must engage in dialogue as equals

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has said that Pakistan is ready to open the Khokharapar border, but this time, India should take the initiative.

"Since independence, Pakistan has survived without any help from India and there will be no assistance required in the future," he said, adding that the two countries must engage in dialogue as equals.

Governor Ismail was addressing the second day of the 14th Build Asia Exhibition at the Karachi Expo Centre on Sunday. In his address, the governor said that the exhibition was a testament to the growth of the construction industry, adding that the government fully backed its organisers.



Gas supply

According to Ismail, the federal government had taken serious notice of the suspension of gas supply to industries, adding that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government believed in resolving issues through dialogue. He reiterated the federal government's assurance that no public entity would create hurdles for industries in the future. The governor added that the Center had finalised arrangements for the provision of gas to industries and CNG stations on a priority basis.

Kashmir

Speaking on the Kashmir issue, the governor said that peace in the region would only be possible once the Kashmir issue was resolved.

The Sindh Governor said that the provincial government was reluctant to cooperate with him. He said that the provincial government was not responding to his overtures and that impediments were being created to discourage the federal government from completing development projects.

Ribbon-cutting

Pakistan Navy's Karachi Commander Rear Admiral Asif Khaliq performed the ribbon-cutting on the second day of the exhibition. Addressing the audience after the ribbon-cutting, Rear Admiral Khaliq said that new horizons were opening for Pakistan.



He said that foreigners were visiting Pakistan, realising the country's potential. The Rear Admiral expressed the hope that the exhibition would prove to be a platform for attracting foreign investment.

A large number of foreign delegates and business leaders visited various stalls on the second day of the Build Asia Exhibition.

Khursheed Nizam, the president of E-Commerce Gateway Pakistan said that many agreements were signed with foreign companies.

He added that foreign and local businessmen showed interests in various items on display at the exhibition.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2018.