RAWALPINDI - Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan has suggested to open new horizons to promote bilateral trade relations between the two neighbouring countries Pakistan and India.
He said that SAARC countries ministerial level meeting would be held next week in India focusing on promotion of bilateral trade relations. “Trading activities between the two countries has been increased and trade volume between the two countries has reached the figure of $2.5 billion but there are many other opportunities to further enhance the bilateral trade relation,” he added.
Dr Raghavan said this at a meeting with President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Dr Shimail Daud Arain during his visit to the Chamber here on Monday. Group leader Sheikh Shabbir, former presidents, Senior Vice President Malik Shahid Saleem, Vice President Muhammad Aalam Chughtai, members of executive committee and other members of the chamber were also present on the occasion. Dr Raghavan said that Rawalpindi Chamber was playing a vital role in developing trade relation between India and Pakistan and the Chamber has organised many single country expos in India to promote local products.
The high commissioner said that issues regarding business visa would be resolved soon and High Commission was arranging a seminar on the said topic and all the chambers would be invited to attend the seminar. He said that High Commission would welcome any of suggestion from the Chamber, which could increase the bilateral trade relations.
To a question Dr Raghavan said that after getting the status of polio free country India has decided to bind every individual have to show the Oral polio vaccination certification before travelling to India and this condition was not only for Pakistan but also for all travellers of polio victimised countries. Speaking on the occasion, President RCCI Dr Shimail Daud Arain said that Rawalpindi Chamber was in favour of giving most favoured nation (MFN) status to India and believed in promotion of regional trade.   He said that Pakistan’s major exports to India include fresh fruit, cotton, cement, copper waste, gypsum, ferrous waste of iron and steel, woven cotton fabric, electro medical apparatus, raw hides and skins, leather and inorganic chemicals etc. The total share of Pakistan’s exports to India was just 1.4 per cent. Dr Shimail said that Pakistan’s business community was committed to have a serious, sustainable and constructive engagement with India, and early and full normalization of relations on the basis of mutual non-interference, peaceful co-existence and respect for each other.