Indo-Pak trade can jump if non-tariff barriers are removed: Pakistani businessmen

CHANDIGARH: A visiting delegation of Pakistani businessmen today expressed hope that trade with India can further jump if non-tariff barriers (NTBs) are removed.

"The NTBs are the main hindrance in our trade," Vice President, RCCI, Chaudhary Nadeem A Rauf said addressing an interactive session which the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here organised with nine-member visiting Pakistani business delegation representing Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Rauf said that business community of India and Pakistan can put pressure on the governments to speed up trade agreements signed between the two nations from time to time.

"Both the governments are very good in paper work, MoUs are signed, but unfortunately we are lacking in proper implementation...entrepreneurs are keen that things should be speeded up and fast tracked," he said.

Raja Amer Iqbal, member, Executive Committee, RCCI, said the Pakistani business community was impressed with India's growth story.

"India is growing, India is shining, we have no doubt in this. There are a few industries where India and Pakistan can collaborate and take benefit. But I would say that NTBs remain main issue in bilateral trade and let's get rid of these," he said.

Favouring liberal visas for the businessmen, he expressed hope that multi-visas entry for a longer duration of time may soon become a reality.

He also underlined that whatever trade is done has to be equally benefiting to both the sides otherwise it cannot flourish.

"In this direction, I would say that a significant thing which has been done is that the list of sensitive items has been recently reduced from 1250 to 325. We hope soon this list will come down to 100, meaning barring these items there should be no restriction on other items in which we can trade," Iqbal said.

Pakistan is a gateway to Central Asia and developing countries, Rauf said, adding "it is high time we open up bilateral trade, transfer of technology, goods and services rather than routing the same through the third world countries".

"It shall not only cut the cost for the trading community but also would prove to be a revenue generator for both the governments," he said.

Iqbal also said that trade is the driving engine of growth.

"As a business community, we can help both Indian and Pakistani nations in poverty alleviation through providing, creating and realising more and more bilateral trade opportunities," he said.

Iqbal said that it is important to have a well specified road map on lines of MoUs, so that initially, Punjabs of both the countries can benefit leading to a subsequent percolation of benefits to whole of the respective nations.

"Both the governments have to understand and work together to expedite and relax visa and customs norms," said N S Aulakh, convener, Mohali Zone, PHD Chamber.