Federal Minister of Industries and Production Liaquat Ali Jatoi has called upon the member states of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc), to evolve a joint strategy to overcome the problem of unemployment by enhancing intra-regional trade which would ensure development and prosperity.
This was stated by him while addressing a roundtable conference arranged by the Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on 'Safta Agenda for Trade Liberalisation' here on Wednesday.
Macky Hashim, President, SCCI, Sheikh Maqbool Ahmad, Vice-President FPCCI and others also spoke on the occasion.
Jatoi urged the Saarc countries to adopt a more liberal visa policy, increase interaction with member countries on economic and political fronts, extend incentives to investors and also tackle the irritants in boosting intra-regional trade.
"Saarc region has big potential and market; hence it should go for regional market arrangements, as trade between the member countries would help cutting down various expenditures," he added.
Talking about Safta, he praised President General Pervez Musharraf for getting signed this treaty during recent Saarc summit. He also lauded him for making headway on many more fronts between India and Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan strongly believes in dialogue and it has always shown commitment in this regard.
Emphasising the need for regional co-operation between Saarc countries for transfer of technology and uplift of industrial sector he said that an Indian delegation during a meeting with him recently had shown interest in upgrading Pakistan's steel sector.
"Saarc countries must evolve a joint strategy to address the issues like international standards, compliance and quality issues after WTO regime.
There must be some regional arrangements to tackle all the issues. The member countries should go in for value-addition of their products, as it is the need of the hour and key to remain competitive in post-WTO regime," he added.
He also welcomed the success of 'Made in Pakistan' exhibition held recently in India and the programme of holding 'Made in India' exhibition in Pakistan.
He said that there should be such exhibitions in other Saarc countries, too.
Later talking to newsmen, the Minister said that political will "is a must" to ensure Safta agreement implementation in all the Saarc countries.
President Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Macky Hashim said that Safta agreement is aimed at eliminating tariffs, para-tariffs and non-tariff restrictions on the movement of goods in the region through a well-laid out 'Trade Liberalisation Programme'.
He said that Saarc has an image of a giant but it is still sleeping. After several proactive steps in the initial years, the Saarc process had seemed to come to a virtual standstill.
Much to the disappointment of the business community, the political differences laid down a major hindrance in the field of trade liberalisation.
He said that SCCI was holding seminars on Safta and two had already been held in Lahore and Delhi and several more were to be held in Colombo, Mumbai, Dhaka and Kathmandu.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice-President Sheikh Maqbool Ahmad, suggesting measures for success of Safta, said that it was dependent on profound political relations between Pakistan and India.
The relations between the two countries on desired level would ensure success of Safta, as both countries, being the largest economies in the region, would have to bear the prime responsibility for initiating best co-operation in the region.
His other suggestions included taking confidence building measures, representation of private sector in the Committee of Experts (CoE), early harmonisation of tariffs, exchange of cross-border information and implementation of Safta in true spirit.
Working session was mainly addressed by speakers from South Asia including Dr Asad Majeed, Director Economic Co-ordinator, Pakistan, Dr Dushni Weerakoon, Institute of Policy Studies-Sri Lanka, Dr Ram Upendra Das, Fellow, Research Information Systems-India and Engr. Akber Sheikh, Prominent Industrialist-Pakistan.
Speakers focussed their presentations on issues related to Non-Tariff Barriers, Rules of Origin, Sensitive List, and Dispute Settlement Mechanism under Safta Agreement.
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