RAWALPINDI: The business community of Pakistan supports ‘Aman ki Asha’ because this peace initiative could help resolve several outstanding issues between the two neighbouring countries. India should display seriousness to practically resolve Kashmir and water disputes for trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and India. Pakistani traders and industrialists want trade ties with India despite some reservations. There are chances of war on the water issue. Improvement in bilateral ties could benefit both the countries, but friendship should not be made at the cost of Kashmir and water. Business people should be given more visa facilities.
These views were expressed by speakers at the Jang Economic Session. The topic was ‘The affects of Pak-India Ties on Economy’.
Former Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Rafique Ahmed, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Hamid Akhtar Chadah, former APTMA Punjab zone President Javed Kayani, Rice Export Association Chairman Malik Muhammad Jehangir and former Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Yawir Irfan expressed their views on the topic. Sikandar Lodhi and Intikhab Tariq were the hosts.
Dr Rafiq said it had been clearly defined in the manifestos of all the leading political parties of India that they did not accept the division of the Sub-continent. “India wants its supremacy in the region; therefore, it is not resolving the water and Kashmir disputes. Politics has strong links to trade as political disputes led to blocking of trade,” he added.
Hamid Akhtar said Pakistan’s export to India was worth $10 million and import was worth $11 million. He said trade between Pakistan and India would get an impetus if the peace initiative ‘Aman Ke Asha’ launched by the Jang Group and the Times of India succeeded.
Akbar Sheikh said the obstacles in the way of trade between Pakistan and India should be removed. He said Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing growth was two per cent and that of India 18 per cent.
Javed Kayani said result-oriented talks on the Kashmir dispute must be held. “The EU countries resolved their disputes to strengthen trade. The age of resolving disputes through wars has gone,” he added.
