NEW DELHI: Visiting women entrepreneurs from Pakistan on Friday called for strengthening of trade and commerce with India.

The Pakistani women’s delegation said after they met here members of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Ladies Organisation (FLO), Indian news agency ANI reported on Saturday.

The delegation from Pakistan, under the banner of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI), was led by fashion designer Faizaa Samee. Samee said that individual efforts need to be lent a fillip rather than blaming the governments of India and Pakistan for the bottlenecks.

“I think we really need to find out what is the right procedure that can take place. It is not just the governments that are to be blamed but it is also our lack of knowledge. That is why we can’t do it. So, we are working towards finalising procedures. We should be able to increase trade and in my opinion it should be done properly,” Samee said.

“And personally I don’t think we should let Dubai take all the benefits as we the two countries trade through them. By trading directly we will give direct profits to our countries and our governments. We will do business by giving proper duties and taxes,” she added.

She expressed confidence that through better and pro-active communication, regional trade between the two neighbours would increase a great deal. “I am sure we will take this forward. And I hope that communication between both the countries increases and people can do trade, which I think is very important. Regional trade is important for both our economies,” Samee added.

Apart from Samee, other members of the Pakistani delegation were fashion designer Farida Qureshi, cosmetologist Dr Farah Dewan, Aisha Rahman, Huma Naved and Aasma Hanif. Ranjana Agarwal, Senior Vice-President of the FLO, led the Indian delegation at the meet.