NEW DELHI, Sep 15:
Pakistan today made a case for resumption of trade secretary level talks and better connectivity between the two nations to promote trade and investments.
Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said although huge potential exists between the countries there is still a long way to go.
“I think this is a good idea. We (should) work on this. Let us hope that the dialogue process between India and Pakistan resumes sooner than later…We are planning such talks to resume again…We will pursue this,” he said while addressing business leaders of both the countries.
He was responding to a suggestion by an Indian businessman that Commerce Secretaries of both the countries should travel with a business delegation.
“We need to transcend our skewed thinking and the tunnel vision which we have about each other. The time has come to move forward. We cannot be stuck in a time warp. We need to now move forward for the benefit of our people,” Basit said.
On connectivity, he said there is hardly any connectivity between Pakistan and India.
“There are only two flights a week. We have issued close to 50-60,000 visas per year and from the Indian side it’s not more than 70,000. Train is perhaps once a week.
“When it comes to roaming facilities, we cannot use Pakistani SIM card here. You cannot use Indian SIM there. So there are serious issues involved. And one wonders that given this environment, how can you really talk of promoting trade, mutual investment because unless you have an enabling environment you most of the time come back to square one as has been happening in the last 67 years,” he said.
Basit said the overall environment is not very conducive, “I will be honest with you” but at the same time “we cannot give up because this relationship is very very important”.
He added that huge huge potential is there between the two countries and if both the sides resolve their problems and start doing trade and investment, “I can tell you, we do not need the rest of the world because there is so much which we can do together”.
“Our Prime Minister is committed to improving this relationship. I am confident that notwithstanding the multiple challenges, we will hopefully make a difference,” he said.
On SAARC, the High Commissioner said this region was the least integrated in the world in all respects – economically, politically and culturally.
The intra-SAARC trade is very low as compared to other regions such as the European Union and ASEAN. (AGENCIES)
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