LAHORE : Four member Canadian Sikh delegation including Sardar Otar Singh Sangara, Sardar Joga Singh, Sardar Baldir Singh and Sardar Balvinder Singh Nonwa visited Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) on November 27, 2015. The delegation was led by Dr. Najma Afzal Khan (MPA), Ch. Ashiq Hussain (Advocate) and Ch. Muhammad Riaz (NGO Member).
Sikh delegation’s visit aimed at discussing the potential and modalities involved in the establishment of a state of the art university and hotel at NANKANA Sahib. They also discussed the problems and issues faced by the pilgrims and businessmen pertaining to the visa issuance.
To brief the delegation about the potential areas of investment between Canada and Pakistan as well as to answer the queries, Mian Ata Mohammad Maneka (Minister Auqaf), Mr. Muhammad Siddique-ul-Farooq (Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board), Mr. Abdullah Khan Sumbal (Commissioner Lahore), Mr. Nayyer Iqbal (Secretary Auqaf),Dr. Shoaib Akbar (Special Secretary Home), Mr. Abdul Basit (Chairman, PBIT), Ms. Amena Cheema (CEO, PBIT) and Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat (Head of Turkey Cell) were present at the meeting.
Chairman, PBIT, Mr. Abdul Basit assured that the Government would study the visa and other issues raised by the Sikh delegation carefully and make the investment process easier for them.
These delegation visits from Canada shows that Canada’s relationship with Pakistan is gradually shifting from providing development aid to engaging in bilateral trade.