Pakistan keen to boost trade with India

Observing that there is enormous potential for enhancing bilateral trade with India, Pakistan on Tuesday said economic managers of the two countries should plan the roadmap and remove roadblocks in this regard.

"It is the right time for the economic managers of the two countries in the driving seat to plan the future roadmap and remove roadblocks," Pakistan Minister of State for Commerce Hamid Yar Hiraj told a joint meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and its Pakistani counterpart Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Karachi.

"We have to see that even if there is compulsion on the governments of the two countries, and for diplomatic reasons they want to impose trade restriction, they should feel paralysed in doing so due to strong trade relations and back off from taking restrictive actions," he said.

"Chambers of the two countries should force the governments of (India and Pakistan) to sign a 'No War Treaty'," the minister said.

Pointing out that history had moved much ahead, he said the industry chambers should identify areas that can get binding commitments from the two governments.

Speaking on the occasion, FICCI president Onkar S Kanwar proposed that Pakistan may provide a list of items which it finds would hurt its business interests.

India, he said, would honour it by not trading in these items.

Noting that there is a huge information gap, Kanwar said Indian and Pakistani businessmen should be made aware of the trade opportunities in the two countries.

He sought easing of visa restrictions for businessmen and said these should be considered after certification of their business needs by FICCI and FPCCI.

India could become Pakistan's gateway to the east and south east Asia, the FICCI president said and sought opening of road route for trade through the Wagah border and greater port connectivity.

He also asked Pakistan government to allow roaming facility to Indian cell phone users.

On the issue of non-tariff barriers, Kanwar asked Pakistani businessmen to furnish evidence of these to FICCI, which, he said, would take up the matter with the government.

"I assure if there are any non-tariff barriers, they will be withdrawn," he asserted.

FPCCI president Choudhary Muhammad Saeed said it has been universally accepted that survival of nations would be convoluted if they do not prepare to face the challenges of future trade.

"Intra-regional, trade, however, is only four per cent among SAARC countries and contributes just one per cent of global trade. If this trend continues, I fear smaller blocs like SAARC may become insignificant for trade," he said.

Besides textiles, Indo-Pak trade can be enhanced in items like tea, coffee, textile machinery and chemicals, he said.