Pakistan-India Trade and Economic Relations improving: High Commissioner Sabharwal

Pakistan News & Features Services

India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Sharat Sabharwal, has expressed the hope that the trade and economic relations between the two neighbouring countries will continue to improve and the ties will be further strengthened in the coming years. 

The Indian envoy delivered an address on the subject of Pakistan-India Trade and Economic Relations in a gathering of the English Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP), which was also attended by a large number of diplomats, at Hotel Beach Luxury, Karachi, on October 16. 

Sabharwal updated the audience, predominantly from the business community, about the measures taken to boost the bilateral trade. 

He pointed out that his country has allowed foreign direct investment from Pakistan, while a new gate has been opened at Wagah border crossing point to facilitate movement of goods. 

He observed that both two countries have already taken a number of measures in liberalising visa issuance, adding that the businessmen were being issued multiple visas for a number of cities. 

“Besides working on enhancing the bilateral trade both Pakistan and India have taken a number of steps to improve people to people relations,” the Indian High Commissioner noted. 

Sabharwal revealed that the visit of Makhdoom Amin Fahim in 2011 to India was the first by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister in 35 years while Anand Sharma, earlier this year, became the first-ever Indian Commerce Minister to visit Pakistan. 

“Both of these, therefore, were landmark visits because the Commerce Ministers were accompanied by large delegations comprising of key businessmen who showed keen interest in expanding trade across the border,” the Indian High Commissioner added. 

In his welcome address, Aziz Memon, President, ESUP, stressed the need for greater trade with neighbouring India. 

“Fostering the process of regional trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and India will bring peace and prosperity in the region. It will be a mutually beneficial deal and people of both countries will benefit from it immensely,” he reckoned. 

Aziz Memon did not mince words in stating that many European countries had fought wars with each other in the past but they realized the importance of doing trade with the neighbours and they continued business activities despite difference of opinion on political matters. 

The ESUP President lauded the recent initiatives of the Indo-Pak governments, hoping that these decisions will open the floodgates in both the countries. 

The question-answer session turned out to be a lively one as the Indian High Commissioner, with a smile on his face, came up with befitting replies to some testing queries. 

Although the audience was being urged to restrict their questions to the topic of the day, a few unrelated queries were still made but they were taken care of in a very calm and composed manner. 

India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Sharat Sabharwal, was presented a plaque on behalf by the ESUP by Michael Dodman, Consul General, United States of America (USA) in Karachi.

It turned out be an enlightening and informative session in line with the tradition of the ESUP of holding such special programmes for the benefit of its members in particular.