Prime Minister has given me task of 'trade, not aid': Aizaz Ahmad

Pakistan Ambassador to United States of America (USA) Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry has said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given him the task of "Trade, not Aid" and he has taken this responsibility as a mission. He was talking to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) office bearers, its President Abdul Basit, Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa, Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan and executive committee members here at the Lahore Chamber on Monday.
"We would like to come out from the aid syndrome as Pakistan has all resources to get maximum share in the international trade", he said and added that both Nawaz Sharif and Trump governments have economic agendas, therefore, there should be meaningful talks on trade and investment between the two countries.
United States is the largest trade partner of Pakistan and over one million Pakistani expatriates are living there and they would be encouraged to work to make Pakistan's perception better, he added. He particularly mentioned Afghanistan saying that peace in that country is in the interest of Pakistan.
Aizaz Ahmad said that a new era is in the making as country has left the difficult past behind. He said that ECO Summit in Islamabad and PSL Final in Lahore have given a great message to the world. Overall situation is far better than the past and Pakistan is emerging as a hub of economic activities and gaining the attention of foreign investors, he added. He said that American investors would also be convinced to enhance their investment in Pakistan.
The Ambassador said that liaison with the Lahore Chamber would be top priority of the Pakistani Mission in US and all possible facilities would be provided to the LCCI delegations.
The LCCI President Abdul Basit said that rising mutual trade is a good omen and this trend should be continued. He said that mutual trade rose to $5.5 billion in 2015 from $4.4 billion in 2013. He said that both countries have the potential to grow mutual trade to $ 10 billion through joint efforts.
He said that the US has enjoyed exclusive position for the last many decades in the field of trade and investment. Pakistan is a major non-Nato ally of US in the war against Terror. He said that the war against terror, which had engaged Pakistan for more than a decade, is the biggest hurdle in the way of our economic growth. As per some careful estimates, our involvement in this war to curb terrorism has caused losses to the tune of almost US$ 120 billion to Pakistan's economy, he maintained.
Abdul Basit said that the business community in Pakistan also wants of the Trump government to consider allowing duty free access to Pakistani merchandise in lieu of Pakistan's sacrifices in US war against terrorism.
Economic stability of Pakistan through prompt direct market access to US is must to crush terror in the region effectively. Aid or grant is undoubtedly remedy but has never been a substitute to trade. Market access will help rehabilitate and reconstruct the totally damaged basic industrial infrastructure besides generating jobs for millions of jobless people. If US is sincere with Pakistan, it must also fulfil all commitments made on different occasions that reconstruction of opportunity zones would be established.
Abdul Basit said that US happened to be the biggest export market for Pakistan but it has been witnessed that Pakistani exports to USA are stagnant. Pakistani embassy in the USA would have to ensure dissemination of trade, fairs & exhibitions related information.