Indian High Commissioner Dr Raghavan. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR: In order to bridge the gap between India and Pakistan, pleasant remarks were exchanged with Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan at a dinner hosted at the residence of Awami National Party senior vice president Haji Muhamamd Adeel on Wednesday. Politicians, businessmen and other stakeholders attended the event honouring the first visit of an Indian dignitary to the province in almost a decade.
Adeel stressed the importance of trade and business between the neighbouring countries. “Industrialists and manufacturers can easily use each other’s available raw material, manpower and technological experiences.”
He added Pakistan and India are not only neighbours but their people can also relate to each other as both face similar issues. He was of the view that by forming trade relations, both the counties would be able to prosper and progress.
“We are working to remove the hurdles that affect trade between both countries,” said Raghavan, adding they have expedited work on the visa issue. He said, “There is still great potential to enhance trade between [India and Pakistan].”
Former senator and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leader Haji Ghulam Ali who has also served as the president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said hostilities between both nations have caused both to suffer from economic problems. “Global and political dynamics are changing, both countries can come forward to assist each other.”
Khawaja Muhammad Waseem who works for Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy reiterated the importance of people-to-people contact, saying in order to improve relations it is important people from India and Pakistan meet; visa restrictions need to be eased. Waseem added Pakistan chapter of the forum intends to attend a conference in Lucknow, taking 400 women and their spouses. Women delegates from other South Asian Association for Regional Cooporation countries will also be invited.
On Thursday, the Indian high commissioner met ANP Central Vice President Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour at the residence of Senator Ilyas Bilour.
While talking to Raghavan, Ahmed said, Pakistan wants peaceful relations with all its neighbours, including India with which the country wants to improve bilateral trade. In order to achieve this goal, he added, both Indian and Pakistani leaders need to step up to the plate.
Like the rest, Ahmed also pressed the issue of visas and said this needs to be addressed so people can interact and communicate with their neighbours. ANP Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain and other senior leaders were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2015.
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