Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Shiv Shankar Menon has said that trade is better way for normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan in the prevailing situation of the region.
Talking to businessmen of NWFP here at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) at Sarhad Chamber he said that the issuance of visa for traders has been simplified and now they could get visa within three week of the application.
Similarly, he said that executive police registration (EPR) has also been simplified and the traders would not have to pass from such kind of harsh conditionalities in India.
Flanked by T.C.A. Raghavan, Deputy High Commissioner, he invited businessmen to visit India and find market for their goods saying that business has registered complete change during last one decade in India. He said that the standard of income has increased in India.
The Indian High Commissioner said that Pakistan and India are going to start their composite dialogue from the month of June and July this year.
He said that the composite dialogue also to be held at the level of commerce secretaries of both countries to discuss the means of how to promote trade relations.
Menon urged on the business community to come forward and play role in the prevailing situation, saying that negotiation table is better place to know about what to do.
He was of the view that proper utilisation of this critical period could benefit both neighbouring states.
The Indian envoy in Islamabad praised the restoration of sports relations between both countries and said that cricket had always played important role in the strengthening of Pak-Indian relations.
He said that any cricket fan, who has visited Pakistan during the current series, has become an ambassador of Pakistan in India.
Regarding promotion of trade relations, he specifically offered co-operation in promotion of joint textile sector, saying that Pakistan is better in textile while India produce sufficient cotton.
However, he said that the matter would be left only on mercy of the governments and people to people relations could also play important role in it.
Replying a question regarding the preparation of the sensitive list of Indian imports, he said that it would be prepared in co-operation with the government of Pakistan.
He said that through preparation of this list they would try to create trade opportunities for each other.
He added that business community of both countries is creating understanding with each other and expressed the hope that Made in India Trade Fair scheduled in Pakistan would go long in this connection.
In response to a question regarding high duty tariff on imports in India, he acknowledged that the tariff rate in his country is high. However, he said that it would be brought at the level of ASEAN in 2006.
He said that due to large population, all countries of the world are interested in export to India, adding that the import of India has registered 30 percent increase during last year. Similarly, he said that all multinational companies are interested in introduction of their products in Indian market.
He said that there is no restriction on the import of consumer goods in India. However, he asked Pakistani businessmen to inform him about the tariff on a specific item that is hurting their exports to Indian.
He told Peshawar based businessmen that two million mobile phones make entry to India every month.
Earlier, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) Adeel Rauf called for the exchange of trade delegations among the two countries to level ground for further co-operation and interaction among the business communities of India and Pakistan.
He said that the signing of South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta) in the sideline of the Saarc summit in the first week of the current calendar year is augured well for the economic development of the whole region.
He said that local businessmen and industrialists would mostly benefit from this agreement in view of the fact that a big market in India and Saarc region would be available for their local products.
The SCCI chief also termed the visit of the delegation of Pakistani businessmen to India and participation in the "Made in Pakistan" trade fair in New Delhi a good omen.
He said that it is heartening to note that the political leadership of India and Pakistan has finally realised that economic growth cannot be achieved unless peace and tranquility is brought to the region.
"I wish for the peace process between India and Pakistan to continue and further consolidate in the days to come so that the people of the region could lead a better life," the SCCI chief said.
Others who present on the occasion were Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, Ghulam Sarwar Khan Mohmand, and Colonel Syed Khizer Hayat (Retd), Haji Mamoor Khan, Pervez Elahi Malik, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi and members of the executive committee of the chamber.
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