A 72-member trade delegation of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) led by its President Mian Anjum Nisar on Friday returned home through Wagha after undertaking tour of five cities of India.
The delegation had left here for India on February 5, to visit four cities including Amritsar, New Delhi, Agra and Ajmer.
The delegation held meetings with the representatives of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Punjan-Hariana-Delhi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHD CCI).
Talking to newsmen at Wagha check post, LCCI Chief and head of this trade delegation, Mian Anjum Nisar said that this tour helped them studying the working of Indian economy and industrial sector.
Besides discussing the trade and economic affairs, delegation members also urged Indian business community to emphasise resolution of all outstanding issues including Kashmir so as no impediment could hurt the smooth trade relations in future, he added.
He said that they conveyed that although they (Pakistanis) are equally eager to initiate full-scale trade with India but they have to follow the policies of the government.
It was also conveyed that all the issues should be resolved keeping aside ego so as when trade starts, nothing could hamper it as had been experienced in the past, he added.
Mian Anjum Nisar said that Indians were very much eager for trade and they emphasised on land route and Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for India. He said that Indian industry was very stable and now the Government of Pakistan should also prepare the domestic industry to compete Indian products as well as post-WTO regime.
He reiterated his demand of preparing a list of 'sensitive items' provision of which, according to him exists in the Safta agreement to save the local industry.
He said that the delegation members also called upon their Indian counterparts to stop subsidising their various sectors to provide a level playing field for the industrial and economic sector of both the sides.
The LCCI Chief, who was very appreciative of hospitality extended to the delegation during their visit of India, said that they revived an agreement with CII and called for exchange of studies. He said that trade should be initiated, as it was the need of the hour.
He said that experience had shown that wherever regional blocks were formed, trade picked momentum. However, he stressed the need that Pakistan should do their homework as Indians.
To a question he said that they also visited 'Made in Pakistan' exhibition being arranged by the FICCI and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in New Delhi.
He termed it a good effort where 85 Pakistani companies have put their products on display.
Replying another query, he stated that people of PHD Chamber and CII also wanted to come to Pakistan.
He said that they talked to Pakistani High Commissioner for facilitating businessmen in getting visa.
He specially mentioned hospitality of Punjab Chief Minister, Amrinder Singh who not only arranged two dinners for the delegation but also threw a party at his family palace in Patiala.
Earlier, the LCCI Vice-President Shahzad Ali Malik welcomed the delegation members upon their arrival.
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