'Prosperity of South Asia in India's own interest'


Express June 09, 2010

KARACHI: India regards the prosperity of the rest of South Asia as in its own interest, stated The High Commissioner of India Sharat Sabharwal on Wednesday.

The High Commissioner was addressing a gathering of businessmen at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He mentioned that India has started the construction of an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Wagah – Attari border and work on the project is estimated to be completed by April 2011. He said that the Check Post will have modern facilities, for trade and travel purposes between Pakistan and India.

He stated that the potential of trade between India and Pakistan is much larger than the annual trade of $ 2 billion approximately in recent years.

He said that in keeping with the provisions of the South Asian Free Trade Area Agreement (SAFTA), India follows an approach of a sensitive list towards all SAARC countries, including Pakistan.

The High Commissioner expressed hope that Pakistan would move to a sensitive list approach, in the matter of imports from India, as against the current approach of a positive list.

He expressed his faith in the ability of the business communities of India and Pakistan to create win-win situations that are to the advantage of both the countries.

COMMENTS (1)

Dr.Ghulam Murtaza Khuhro | 13 years ago | Reply Then, are we looking for some Aristotle and Socrates to reveal to us what hinders us from burying the hatchets and think of the real issues? What scares us to be bold and rational? Countries without people are just like flowers without fragrance, and people without spiritual and material prosperity are just like plants with day by day diminishing water. Probably, innovations of science and technology rendering the old world obsolete and weaving new fabric of international relations might wash our historical linen and thrust the prudence on us. Yet the organization of society is mainly responsibility of the intelligent creatures of the globe. South Asia has common characteristics and common problems, let us pool our intellectual and material resources to fight the syndrome of backward and sub-human life that is cursing clearly and loudly our ambivalence, degradation and complacency. New world with innovations of science and technology as an objective force at its helm is offering unimaginable opportunities. Let us avail and invoke the innovations in all areas of our activity.
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