Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Standing Committee of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) on Horticulture & Food Exports Chairman Ahmad Jawad has emphasised that Pakistani and Indian businesses need to make joint efforts to find new opportunities of bilateral interest in trade and investment and lobby their governments to reform policy and open doors to businesses of both countries.

In an interaction with INP on Sunday, Ahmad Jawad said that the governments need to take a step-back and businesses must take the initiative, this is the only way to play the game to increase trade and investment and deepen relationships in South Asia. The opportunities are immense and now is the time to push through, he said. India and Pakistan had different seasons for the same crops. Thus we can tackle problems of gluts and shortages of each country if we work together, but with level playing field.

The Chairman Standing Committee said that though both county’s relations dominate every South Asian forum but in today’s scenario, the terms economic union and economic cooperation have gained momentum. The implemented and impending policies for forming trade alliances have their source in the discipline of international trade and economics. To study wider regional cooperation, it is important for a person to have knowledge of international economics, to know what international trade theories are and how they specifically apply to Pakistan and India trade relations.

He said that as we are producing cement, textiles and ceramics due to our labour expertise and resource availability, it is very hard for us to compete with India in the software sector and with China in electronics and gadgets. Now it is equally expensive for these countries to compete with Pakistan on the aforementioned sectors. Thus, according to an economist’s point of view, there is very little room for fears of Indian hegemony or of China destroying our markets. Trade and economic cooperation with these countries is going to be extremely beneficial only if Pakistan develops the right sectors at right time and then exports its surplus, he maintained.

Jawad said, “Our policymakers should not overlook and forget the problems and hurdles associated with policy and try to address them for the economic stability of regional nations as a whole. Pakistan and India must continue to increase their economic activity irrespective of border and political disputes”. As in other parts of the world like the European Union, economic integration and interests can lead to a resolution of political conflicts. Regarding minorities in India suffering now a days due to right wing Hindu mentality he said it is a matter of serious concern but it’s the responsibility of the government to control these things immediately because it may hit the momentum of bilateral trade.