No negative impact on Pak-UK trade is expected in post-Brexit scenario. However, UK will continue to lend full support to Pakistan to maintain existing facility of GSP plus in EU.
Addressing the business community in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), Mike Nithavriankis, Deputy High Commissioner/Director Trade UK said that Britain and Faisalabad have historic relations which must be en-cashed for economic benefits of the both countries. He told that 5000 companies are present in UAE while the number of these companies working in Pakistan is only 150. He assured that he will try his optimum best to convince the British companies to invest in Pakistan. However, Pakistani senior ministers especially relating to planning, CPEC and Energy should also contact these companies so that emerging opportunities could be fully exploited for the benefit of two countries.
British Deputy High Commissioner told that the law and order situation was not satisfactory few years ago but now peace has returned and British Government have withdrawn travel advisories while British Airways has also started its air operation in Pakistan.
Responding to a question about visa fee, he said that according to his knowledge no proposal was under consideration to trim the visa fee. However, he gave a positive response for the establishment of Gerry's office in Faisalabad for the receipt of visa applications. However, it will also be subject to the availability of sufficient number of applicants from this area as its existing office in Lahore is already receiving applications from Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad and other adjoining areas.
About cooperation in food processing sector, he requested that interested persons should clearly identify the machinery, appliances and technology required for this sector so that he could contact concerned British companies and inform them about the existing potential available in Pakistan. About office of British Council, he also assured to review this proposal so that maximum facilities could be offered to the students belonging to this area. About proposed trade delegation to UK, he said that FCCI should apply for visas right now so that ample time could be made available for demanding supplementary information during the processing of visa applications.
Earlier Rana Sikandar Azam Khan, President FCCI explained in detail the historic relations between Pakistan and UK and said that there are apprehensions about the decline in trade after BREXIT. He requested Mike Nithavriankis, Deputy High Commissioner to extend maximum support to overcome the possible impact on our bilateral trade after BREXIT. He told that the trade volume between the two countries was US$ 2.59 billion in 2018. Pakistan's exports were US$ 1.728 billion while the imports from UK were $ 0.865 billion. Thus the balance of trade was in favor of Pakistan.
During Question Answer session, SVP Zafar Iqbal Sarwar, Engineer Rizwan Ashraf, Syed Zia Alumdar Hussain, Engineer Ahmad Hassan, Engineer Baber Shahzad and other member raised interesting questions. Later President FCCI presented shield to British Deputy High Commissioner while VP Bilal Waheed Sheikh offered vote of thanks.
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