SAARC Chamber Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik Saturday expressing hope that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tour to United Arab Emirates (UAE) will not only help Pakistan to boost its export besides exploring new trade potential but also mutually beneficial for both the countries and if steps are taken timely in right direction then the current trade volume of $8 billion between Pakistan and UAE will be surpassed in coming years.
In his statement issued here today, he said at this juncture, we are able to build on the historic relationship by encouraging investors on both sides to make use of the business and cooperation opportunities. He also proposed having a dialogue with the business community in both the countries and make room for having more agreements to launch new initiatives.
Iftikhar Malik made it clear that Pakistan should take steps in direction of minimizing trade deficit between both the countries and focus on those items which would be exported to this brotherly Islamic country. He said that imports from UAE to Pakistan increased last year from $6.62 billion to $7.23 billion whereas exports from Pakistan to UAE has decreased about 1.83 per cent from $1.08 billion to $1.06 billion.He further said traditional and historical relationship is the foundation of our future cooperation and both the countries initiated work on a framework to boost trade and investment and to avoid double taxation.
Appreciating Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sincere efforts to increase Pakistan’s export besides steering the country out of the current fiscal crisis, he said the whole nation is standing with the Prime Minister at this crucial time and the business community will support Imran Khan in his economic initiatives. He said that its good omen that Prime Minister got excellent response during his maiden visits to China and Saudi Arabia He said that entire business community had already reposed full confidence on the top leadership of PTI led government committed to quick uplift of the down trodden besides facilitating the traders for addressing their all genuine grievances on top priority.
Published in Daily Times, November 18th 2018.