LAHORE:
In order to promote trade between Pakistan and India, bilateral issues between
the countries, like water, Siachen and Kashmir, can not be ignored.
Thought bilateral trade is vital for progress of both the
countries and improvement in regional trade, efforts should also be made to
find ultimate solution to the political issues between the two countries.
These views were expressed by the discussants in Jang Economic
Session held on “Forthcoming Pak-India Business Conference” here on Tuesday.
The participants were Dr Salman Shah, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (FCCI), Muzamil Sultan, CEO Chan One Kashif Ashfaq, Chairman PIAF
Sohail Lashari, Chairman Metro Group Mirza Imtiaz, and Chairman Pakistan
Agriculture Scientist Association Jamshad Cheema. The event was hosted by
Sikindar Hameed Lodhi and Intikhab Tariq.
Dr Salman Shah suggested prioritizing tourism sector in bilateral
trade with India, followed by trade and investment. He said trade between ASEAN
member countries had reached 10 per cent of their GDP while Pakistan and India
were far behind in this regard. He said Pakistan would get a big Indian market
with free trade but there was also a downside of the free trade between the two
countries.
Presently, only 10 Pakistani trucks crossed over to India while
more than 100 Indian trucks arrived here in the country, he said, fearing that
the decision on bilateral trade could not be made in a haphazard manner. He
said India was improving ties with Pakistan the US pressure while Pakistan
should not allow it access to the Central Asian markets until long lasting
issues of Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and water were resolved.
Muzamil Sultan said that Pakistan had diverted its attention for
promotion of regional trade with India and China market after it was kicked out
from Europe and US. He said Punjab would benefit a lot from bilateral trade
with India, and Pakistan would get around one billion dollars textile market in
the country. Terming India a clever partner, he said Pakistan should make
calculated moves. If Pakistan had decided to follow the US orders, it should
purchase electricity from India as it was unable to buy it from Iran due to the
US threat of imposition of sanctions on Pakistan.
Kashif Ashfaq said that bilateral trade had both pros and cons as
Pakistani agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors would face setback from it
while textile sector would be a beneficiary from the move. He said Pakistani
textile sector products had good demand in India as Pakistan was better than
India in home textile, lawn and cotton while India had edge in apparel sector
and cottage industry.
Sohail Lashari said the Indian establishment was not different
from the Pakistan establishment and it believed that its survival depended on
enmity with Pakistan. Therefore, he maintained, confusing trade with peace in
this situation was only a dream as trade would not bring peace. Mirza Imtiaz
said Aman Kia Asha was delivering good results which would lead to increase in
the bilateral trade. He said Pakistani industry was not afraid of trade with
India as Pakistan imports were around $40 billion and they would not increase
after trade with India. He said Pakistan auto sector was protected and, after
trade with India, it would get cheaper spare parts which were being imported at
around 40 to 50 per cent duty. He called for improvement in the role of
National Tariff Commission. He said Pakistan was investment-friendly country as
compared to India, despite all crises.
Jamshad Cheema said only those countries progressed which had
given importance to regional trade. He said regional trade had trickle down
effect on neighboring economies by technology transfers, product development
and reduction in freight charges. He said that price differential on
agriculture inputs imported from China as compared to the US and the UK was
more than 90 per cent, but now the cost from China was also growing. Thus, in
such a scenario, there is a need to move towards India, he said.
Agriculture inputsí cost in India was 60 per cent lesser than in
Pakistan, he said, adding that India was working in production enhancement techniques
as well while Pakistan was facing value addition, yield enhancement and
branding issues.
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