KARACHI: Li Bijian, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Karachi, on Thursday visited Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) along with Economic and Commercial Counsellor Guo Chunshui and other team members.
They discussed the matters of bilateral trade. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also came under discussion with FPCCI president Nasser Hyatt Maggo. Pak China Business Council chairman Javed Ilyas, vice presidents Hanif Lakhani, Nasir Khan and Amjad Rafi, former president KCCI were also present in the meeting.
The CG spoke about various hurdles being faced by China-Pakistan business relations. He underscored the need for fool-proof security for Chinese businessmen and people working here. He expressed his concerns over lack of economic policies.
He said lack of basic infrastructure here was also harming China-Pakistan trade and industrial relations. Karachi is the largest port city of Pakistan that suits China in promotion of business activities, he said and added that unskilled labour is damaging the business environment. “We spend our money, effort and time in training the labour but after some time they change their loyalties,” according to him.
The CG further stated that absence of a power plant in Gwadar is the main hurdle towards developing that place rapidly. However, China is establishing its own electricity sources there which will take time, he added.
Earlier, FPCCI president Nasser Hyatt Maggo in his welcome address said that Pakistan and China are close friends but their trade figures are not reflecting this reality. “There are many hidden tariff barriers imposed on trade with Pakistan, we don’t have direct relations with importers in China,” he said and added that China should give Pakistan its due share in Chinese imports.
Pak China Business Council chairman Javed Ilyas said after signing the FTA II in 2019, total bilateral trade between us was of $18 billion. Out of this, Chinese exports were of $16 billion while imports from Pakistan were only of $1.9 billion. China imports a lot of things from other countries but from Pakistan our businessmen complained against many barriers that must be removed. For example, Pakistani beef is the cheapest in the world but Chinese authorities have imposed quarantine restrictions on it. “The same beef is exported to Vietnam in bulk and from Vietnam it reaches China without any restrictions,” Maggo said.
Former president KCCI Amjad Rafi pointed out that Pakistani Basmati rice is the best in the world. India’s Basmati is banned in the EU. Pakistan exported Basmati rice worth $2 billion last year but the Chinese authorities had unfortunately imposed a quota on Basmati rice.
The Consul General said they want to make huge investments in Pakistan. “On 21st May we will celebrate 70th anniversary of Pak-China friendship and diplomatic relationship. On 7th April the Ambassador of People’s Republic of China will visit the FPCCI head office to discuss trade and industrial relations with its members,” he said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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