President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Senior Executive Committee member of FICCI Vikramjit Singh Sahney (L) welcomes FPCCI President Zubair Ahmed Malik. PHOTO: AFP
Malik is in India as the head of a Pakistani business delegation participating in the India International Trade Fair. While attending an event organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), he emphasised the need for the two countries to ease visa restrictions.
"MFN status must be given to India. This is what I am urging our government. We want to see trade flourish between the two countries and it will only flourish if there is free movement of people and if the visa regime is eased by both governments," Malik was quoted as saying.
India had already granted Pakistan MFN status in 1996 but Pakistan is yet to reciprocate the measure even though according to World Trade Organisation (WTO) norms, member countries are required to provide this status on a reciprocal basis.
Additionally, the Pakistani government has missed the December 31, 2012 deadline for phasing out its negative list regime for trade and to grant MFN status to India.
The deadline was missed as some business sectors in Pakistan raised concerns about awarding MFN status to India, Naeem Anwar, Minister (Trade) was quoted as saying by Zee News.
However, Anwar too stated that the elimination of the negative list regime would help improve economic ties between the two countries.
"If Pakistan grants non-discriminatory access to India, India will provide a reciprocal market access to Pakistan at a 0-5% duty rate, similar to what is being given to Bangladesh," India’s Joint Secretary in the Commerce Ministry Arvind Mehta said at the FCCI event, reported IANS.
Pakistan is losing out to Bangladesh by delaying granting non-discriminatory access to India, Mehta pointed out.
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@Rakib: You are talking about a completely different century. I am talking about the burning, rape, and genocide inflicted on Dehli, Agra, Lucknow, and other cities by the British, with full Hindu support and backing, which transformed Central India from a Muslim majority region to a Hindu majority region.
@Maula Jatt: (This was before Hindus and British destroyed that city massacring its entire Muslim population leading to the founding of ‘New Delhi’ by Hindus. )
Construction of New Delhi by Edwin Lyutens though begun in 1911 was halted due to First World War & it was finally inaugurated only in 1931. Aligarh college near Agra was established by Sir Syed in 1875 & many Muslim graduates & learned men were in Delhi by 1911/31. Allama Iqbal had returned in 1908 from England & apart from teaching philosophy & English practiced law at Lahore. Muslim League was established in 1906 & by 1911-31 was very active in Delhi. MA Jinnah, practicing law in Bombay since 1900 got in to active politics since 1905 with Congress & by 1911 had a position of preeminence since Gandhi was still in South Africa & young Nehru had just returned from England. And all these Muslim worthies simply kept quiet when Hindus & British got together & massacred Muslims in the area called New Delhi! Or....are you talking of the 58-days massacre of Muslims of Shahjahanabad/Delhi by Persian Nadir Shah, who took away Koh-i-Noor too, in AD 1739?
@Gp65:
"Secondly, if you honor your word, that would be another reason to do so."
Wow! Of honoring words. Lets see who needs to honor his words first.
1- Indian Prime Minister, Nehru's, Broadcast on 2 November, 1947.
"We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. That pledge we have given, and the Maharaja has supported it, not only to the people of Kashmir, but the world. We will not, and cannot back out of it. We are prepared when peace and law and order have been established to have a referendum held under international auspices like the United Nations. We want it to be a fair and just reference to the people, and we shall accept their verdict. I can imagine no fairer and just offer."
2- Nehru's telegram of 31 October 1947 to Pakistani Prime Minister, Liaqat Ali Khan:
" .... our assurance that we shall withdraw our troops from Kashmir as soon as peace and order are restored and leave the decision about the future of the State to the people of the State is not merely a pledge to your government but also to the people of Kashmir and to the world."
3- Nehru's telegram of 26 October, 1947 to the British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee.
"I should like to make it clear that question of aiding Kashmir in this emergency is not designed in any way to influence the State to accede to India. Our view which we have repeatedly made public is that the question of accession in any disputed territory or State must be decided in accordance with wishes of people and we adhere to this view."
And only a 2 years later, India declared Kashmir her integral part.
@Maula Jatt: You have said "This was before Hindus and British destroyed that city massacring its entire Muslim population leading to the founding of ‘New Delhi’ by Hindus." It is so discouraging to read comments like these that are not based on facts. The name New Delhi has not been given by Hindus it was done by the British for a railway station and not the city. And same is true today. Secondly Sir in the "Katle Aam" in Delhi after the mutiny of 1857 the British did not distinguish between Hindus and Muslims as they fought together, the entire city was raised to ground. Please read the book 'The Last Moghul' by Deryrimple.
@Aschraful Makhlooq: Yours and other comments demonstrate that how much disinformation, propaganda and lack of international relations and economy is prevalent in Pakistan.If this is the state of educed english writing people what must be the state of mind of others. Soooo Sad.
@LaLakiMKaa: It is great to have an abusive name but ignorance is not good. You have said "pakistanis neither know how to do business or how to make things or manufacture things….they have no service based companies..nor they have manufacturing industry" Are you sure what are you talking about? There are a huge amount of items that are being manufactured in Pakistan and they are not only sold in India but all over the world. Grow up. Please.
Dear Moderator and every Indian AND Pakistani on this board, I sincerely request you all to open this link and just see this Video. It brought tears in my eyes and hope this will mellow our tone of discussions on this board. Lots of regards to all. VINOD.
Deheli/Dehli was the name of that city when it was Muslim majority and a seat of refined Muslim culture. This was before Hindus and British destroyed that city massacring its entire Muslim population leading to the founding of 'New Delhi' by Hindus. A fate which Agra, Lucknow, numerous other Muslim cities suffered as well.
@Aschraful Makhlooq: - janab , you are confusing with the literal meaning of Most Favored Nation( MFN ). Actually MFN means you will not discriminate one country by levying different duties/ taxes for the same product while dealing with other countries . Means there shall be uniform rate of duties for all the countries in international trade irrespective of political relations. So by according MFN status to India Pakistan will be obliged to charge the same duty/ taxes for the Indian goods which is being applied while importing from China or Japan or European countries( whom MFN status is given by Pakistan) similarly India too is obliged to charge the same rate of duty on import from Pakistan what is being charged when imported from any other country ( having MFN status given by India) Please don't get confused by the word Most favored nation as you are linking it with the sacrifices of soldiers and wars with India. Regional trade is always cheaper for the countries and a win win situation for both the trading countries. indian medicines are comparatively cheaper (quality maintained )and will benefit immensely tothe common men. A vast market like India will be available for the Pakistani cement, Textile products.Above all better trade relations help improve the political relations too..
Y do u get the spelling of the Indian capital always wrong! Its not ;New Dehli'...its New Delhi!!
No thanks, we don't need it. Forget MFN status, India, just stop treating Indian Muslims and Kashmiris with contempt. That's all we would like.
pak is not giving MFN to india due to the pressure by china....now china has monopoly over pak markets
If Pakistan doesn't give india MFN, india should just withdraw the MFN given to Pakistan.
Once I met an Afghani in Rajdhani express in India.I asked him whether you speak English, he said 'no, par mein hindi bol saqta hoon'. He was so happy to be in train. He said his friend took a flight, but he was willing to see the train. He said 'Kitna sukoon hai india mei.'. He was going to city named Surat to buy a big lot of fabric. I asked him about business in Afghnistan. He said Afghanistan is a poor country and he is not able to sell these fabrics in Afghanistan. He said he's going to make good money by smugling it in to Pakistan.
@islooboy: more than that die in Pakistan a much smaller country per day due decease and lack of medical facilities.
@LaLakiMKaa: pakistn has given MFN status to all European and many asian countries including China, japan and South Korea . China in the border ( having bigger manufacture base than India ) which produces many many and many cheaper goods and the same are available in Pakistan. If Pakistan can face the flow of chines products it can certainly compete with India too, may be in due course. Granting of MFN status to India is blocked because of something other than the economics it is Pakistn who is loosing more. Free trade is expected to help normalize the relations too .
@lol: @Indian Reader: Witness a failed Nation, try the link below.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/12/16/us-witness-pakistan-motorway-idUSTRE5BF01220091216
While I was studying in school I used to read newspapers about American pressure on India for market access but India is not ready for that because if Indian market is opened to outsiders, then India companies will suffer this and that kind of fears our country, later when Mr. Narashima Roa and Dr. Manmohan Singh came to power, they changed the entire face of India with reforms, even though it was done due to compulsion of foreign exchange problems but it has benefited India most. Indian companies fears became unfound, today big and small companies are flourishing in a big way.
In the same manner, there is nothing to fear for Pakistan industrialist.
If business and people to people contacts improves between India and Pakistan, automatically hardliners will take back seat, it will bring peace for both the countries.
The peace between India and Pakistan is in the hands of Pakistan people, India is always ready to accept Pakistan friendship warmly (but without Pakistan's backstabbing terrorism)
@Indian Reader: This is what I got from Google search about poverty in India and Pakistan. You can give the rebuttal with links which are believable and not fudged data.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/newdelhi/pak-better-than-india-on-poverty/article1-764089.aspx
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/8867353/Indian-poverty-levels-higher-than-Pakistans-says-UN-report.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-can-learn-from-paks-poverty-alleviation-scheme-nitish-kumar/305430-37-64.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-28/poor-in-india-starve-as-politicians-steal-14-5-billion-of-food.html
@Sri Varahadev: Please do that. Most in Pakistan would love to hear that.
ETBLOGS1987
@Junaid: MFN is very different from free trade. Free trade is what you have iven China. It means you are giving a virtually duty free access to their goods, that is not what MFN is, MFN menas that you give the same duty structure o one country as you I've o any other country in WTO.
Secondly UK may have talked about. Non tariff barriers in 2010 but that has not prevented it from giving India MFN status. Finally , your overnment's committed to give MFN status to India if it withdrew its objections to EU concessions to Pakistan. This was in September 2011 wll after the David Cameron quote that your are providing. So clearly they were not unaware. If they were unwilling to give the MFN, they should not have made that offer. To make an agreement, receive benefit and then fail to follow through on our part of commitment is just plain and simple dishonorable.
@Mustafa: Good one
ETBLOGS1987
@islooboy: @Aschraful Makhlooq:
Please review my response to @Kamal
@Mia: What you are saying is very rudimentary , in this age of openness every country can take advantage of open trade. People who oppose open trade are infact blood suckers of common people of Pakistan and India . Any student of economics knows how The Theory of Comparative Advantage works in trade. Common people can get much cheaper food grains from respective countries . Just try and research the prices of food grains in two countries and calculate how it will benefit common people in case there are less barriers . No farmer is opposed to open trade as they will get fair prices for their produce ,its only "middlemen" who are opposing it .
@islooboy: who said ? have you ever been to India mr. arm chair critic ? Come out and see India now. Poverty in India has come down to 22 % in last decade, where as in Pakistan the poverty rate is around 40% as per the latest report. Try google search. Don't play the poverty and toilet cards again mate.
@islooboy: bah u and ur madrassah taught statistics..... but can understand how it feels to be citizen of a failed state..... coming next.... gas loadshedding ... LOL :D
Granting India as MFN will open corridor to access Central Asian markets via Pakistan and Afghanistan as Pakistan will be bound to provide land route to India. On the other hand, India's MFN to Pakistan has been pretty useless to Pakistan all these years because of the tension between both the countries and Pakistan hasn't achieved anything since Pakistani market is already flooded with cheap Chinese goods which has already destroyed our local market anyways. India is desperate to get this one which hopefully we won't give them easily unless India stop their mischievous acts in Afghanistan and stop marking illegal dams in IOK.
ETBLOGS1987
@islooboy: You actually do need to give it because it is a condition for membership of WTO that you give MFN status to all WTO members. india could get you penalized for refusing to do this but as a token of goodwill to you chosen not to do so. Secondly, if you honor your word, that would be another reason to do so. You had offered to give India MFN in 2011 in exchange of India lifting its objection in WTO to EU giving special concessions to Pakistan. india did its part but you have not kept your word.
Of course if you think making promises, taking and advantage and then failing to reciprocate is smart instead of dishonorable - then you should continue down the current path.
In the end it is impossible for any country to capture all markets and thus some markets necessarily need to be given a pass. Accordingly rather then seek MFN status for India from Pakistan I would think it better for India to revoke MFN status for Pakistan.
Granting MFN status to India by Pakistan definitely shall be the betrayal with the sacrifices,struggles and martyrs of Kashmiri people and most importantly this was Indian leadership's desire in the regime of PPP not Pakistani government desire and if Pakistan wants to grant India the MFN status then Pakistan has to withdraw its stance from Kashmir cause because the MFN status of India and Kashmir cause can never run together successfully......
@Pakistan Writes- I didn’t know India had already granted MFN to Pakistan?
Whose Fault is this ? You & Your Leaders Wants to keep you Ignorant Your Leaders want you to be Muslim First than Pakistani First. You know every thing about Islam and don't practice it and tell other to practice it. I am not Pakistani neither Muslim. Islam and other Religion is a Great if you Practice it. Preaching is not Important.
Mr Raj-USA, you should keep the politics of hate between Indians and Pakistanis communities that exists in America or UK to yourself. People who actually live in India and Pakistan do not feel such animosity towards each other and also they do not do Milad or Havan every Thursday. They are much more chilled than the diaspora communities.
It is not realistic at present to expect Pakistan to make even slight gestures that may help India. Every thing is about Kashmir. India seems to have figured this out and her only worry should be about Pak sponsored terrorism, which will not end in our life time.
@Pakistan:
"I didn’t know India had already granted MFN to Pakistan?"
India had granted Pakistan the MFN as far back as 1996.
where was FPCCI President when last Government of PPP was trying to give India MFN?
Open trade allows larger markets to both countries. Larger markets allow more efficient production of goods and services. This will not happen overnight, but the direction set is proper and must be followed. Maintaining tensions forces both countries to waste money on defence forces.. This money could be better spent in productive ways to make both countries more orderly and prosperous. We live in an era of instant communication quite different to the era in which partition took place. The tools of this era make it possible to make all prosperous - if we give up attempts to hurt and damage each other. Think about that and do what you can to nurture peace the mother of prosperity.
@Pakistan: India granted MFN status to pakistan in 1996
Never, ever commit this grave error. India will suck the skeleton that Pakistan is dry of its marrow. India will become Pakistan's outsourcing arm and then will use it to choke the country into submission! Not that it will take much anyway! But don't do it!
@Pakistan: Yes in 1996 mfn is given and no problem we got not even opposition party tell anything . But y are you all so afraid of this mfn i don't know.
@Pakistan: Yes in 1996
@Pakistan: welcome to reality!!
Give me 2 reasons why we should give MFN to India. What have they done lately for us that we should. Based on recent record it should be the LFN (least favored nation) status. Self respect, pride are the only things left with Pakistan. Now the businessmen want to barter that away too. Wonderful. We will sell our ......s if the price is right.
I didn't know India had already granted MFN to Pakistan?
The incompetent corrupt politicians and Govt. officials are too busy with their off accounts,embezzlement schemes,bribes to worry about India.
If given MFN India will destroy pakistani Industries because pakistanis neither know how to do business or how to make things or manufacture things....they have no service based companies..nor they have manufacturing industry..so how would Pakistan get the benefit of MFN.......Pakistan should concentrate on making strategic industry....
I think India should forget MFN from Pakistan. In my view, the economic benefits to India will be minimal. Anyhow, it is Pakistan's loss and not India's. Pakistan still imports the same goods of Indian origin through Dubai. This costs Pakistan more and the additional cost is borne by the Pakistani consumers. Yes, it would be beneficial for India to have access to Afghanistan. This could be achieved through Iran also.
We don't need MFN status from a failed country.What we can attain from them, a big zero.