'Safta to strengthen economies'

South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta) will promote trade amongst the countries of the region apart from helping in strengthening their economies.
This agreement will also help Saarc countries to improve their trade affairs to meet the challenges to be emerged on international scenario in post WTO regime.
This was stated by the former Secretary General of the Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Co-Convenor of the LCCI Standing Committee on Safta, Rehmatullah Javed while talking to Business Recorder here on Monday.
According to him, Pakistan and India were the two major players in Saarc. India has already developed a strong Industrial base, ready to take on any regional or global challenges where as other regional members including Pakistan are lacking this strength.
Only one or two industries in Pakistan were able to survive after implementation of Safta, hence the government must take effective measures to enable other sectors to remain competitive in the coming regime.
Javed was of the opinion that the government should ensure availability of raw material not available locally on zero rate and also adopt latest technology, as technology and skilled labour could ensure more productivity, which coupled with cheaper rates would help Pakistani products to be competitive in the regional or international markets.
He was of the view that the Government should consult all the industrial sectors in order to prepare a sensitive list to protect the Pakistani industry.
Regarding exchange of delegations between India and Pakistan, he said that it was necessary to understand each other and make way for a conducive atmosphere. He also called for making visa process for businessmen easy.
Emphasising resolution of the outstanding issue, he said it is necessary to maintain the atmosphere existing right now between the two states.
However, regional trade was necessary to give a boost to economic activities in the Saarc countries so as inhabitants could reap the fruit in shape of elimination of poverty and bringing in prosperity, he concluded.