Government urged to import electricity, petroleum products from India

President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mian Abrar Ahmed, urged the federal secretary of commerce to explore the opportunities to import electricity and petroleum products from India and Indian investment in Thar Coal and other projects.
In chamber recommendations sent to commerce secretary for his consideration, Mian Abrar Ahmed emphasised the need of direct shipping and airline services for trade. He also underscored the need for resumption of ferry services between Mumbai and Karachi which was discontinued in 1965. He pleaded for increase air links. Currently PIA is operating and Indian Airline should also start its flights.
The other suggestions include eliminating the requirement that ships between Pakistan and India to touch a third country port before bringing in imports:
---- both India and Pakistan's governments must de-link trade talks from politics;
---- both sides should pave way to enter into a preferential trade agreement to further facilitate cross-border commercial exchanges;
---- grant fast-track licensing for bank branches for each other's banks;
---- customs and logistics transportation facilities should be improved, number of customs posts be increased;
---- expanding the scope of land trade, besides Wagah-Attari border, the Monabao Khokrapar Border should be opened for trade; remove the requirement that rail wagons carrying goods across the border return empty;
---- there is an informal trade between two countries (via Dubai) amounting to US $2 to 3 billion, necessary steps needed to be taken to check and control informal trade and smuggling;
---- government officials together with private sectors' representatives from both sides must meet more frequently to resolve issues faced by business communities of two countries;
---- domestic industries on both sides be encouraged to enter into joint ventures;
---- must reduce the level of mistrust between both sides and dispel misunderstandings;
---- discuss the multilateral issues of trade with SAARC countries and particularly Afghanistan;
---- intra SAARC countries trade should be enhanced as currently it is only 6 percent;
---- greater interaction among Indian and Pakistani chambers, exchange of information and delegation;
---- India and Pakistan must pass on the real benefits to each other which they are offering to other countries under the SAFTA and SAPTA agreement;
---- liberalise the business visa policy, simplify procedures and reduce visa rejection;
---- removing non tariffs barriers and all other restrictive practices from Indian side so that current huge trade imbalance could be narrowed down in paving the way for Pakistani exports;
---- before undertaking more long term and wide ranging fundamental trade reforms, both countries need to build public support for trade liberalisation between them and finally.
---- initial steps should focus on bilateral measures that can be accomplished relatively easily by executive order rather than via legislation and with minimal resources implications and that would meaningfully increase trade while gaining support for bigger and bolder steps down the line.