Pakistan will protect its interests: Dastgir

Plan to open a land port authority at Sindh border.

HYDERABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir has said that Pakistan will protect its trade interests in any future agreement with India. “We can give Non-discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) to India conditionally based on protection of our trade interests,” the minister said at a press conference at the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI).

“Reciprocity is not the question while according a certain status to India but rather Pakistan’s legitimate trade interests,” he asserted.

Dastgir expressed hope that the new government in India will play its part for normalisation of trade between the two countries.

Responding to a question about the opening of the Khokhrapar-Munabao border for trade, he said a comprehensive trade mechanism is being evolved. He informed the audience that the government is planning to establish a land port authority through legislative measures. “A land port will first be established on an experimental basis on Torkhan-Chaman border or at Wagah, followed by one at Khokhrapar and on Iran-Taftan routes,” he added.

The minister also agreed with the HCCI’s demand for opening cargo terminal at the Hyderabad Airport, pointing out hassles in shipping export-oriented goods through Karachi.

He told the business community that they should not feel threatened by the thought of trade with India as Pakistan’s economy has shown resilience by withstanding the onslaught of terrorism. He cited the signing of free trade agreement with China as a reflection of such buoyancy. “Trade liberalisation is the engine of prosperity as it ensures growth of economy,” he commented.

Dastgir advised the traders to benefit from the GSP Plus status accorded to Pakistan by the European Union.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2014.

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