The traders from member countries of the Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), have appreciated the 8.6 percent growth rate achieved by Pakistan last year.
This was stated by Mr J.M.Gandhi, member of the Indian Merchant Chamber, Mumbai, in an e-mail sent on Saturday to vice-president Saarc CCI, Pakistan Chapter, Jamil Mahboob Magoon, and life member of the Saarc CCI and former president Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik.
He said that the presentation by Tariq Hameed, chairman Wapda, on the occasion of Saarc Businessmen's Conclave, held in Delhi in November last, was very important. He said: "After spending lifetime in private sector, Tariq has moved to take charge of an important organisation in the public sector and has begun by unbundling the state electricity department and successfully introducing principle of public and private partnership in both production as well as also distribution through joint ventures with private sector."
Gandhi said: "We need to emulate their example and find out what we can do at least in some progressive states in our own country." He said: "It is important to know that Pakistan has managed to achieve growth rate of 8.6 percent in the last year and is moving towards double digit growth rate through reforms in power and agriculture sector-something identical in all respects with what we intend to do in our own country."
"There is a great deal we can learn from each other," he said, adding "Saarc message is very clear that potential for growth through co-operation is immense." He said that equally clear was the fact that nothing would happen unless and until the core issue of Kashmir is resolved. He said: "India and Pakistan are two prominent members of the Saarc organisation."
"What we need is a brain-storming exercise amongst a few like-minded individuals to work out a strategy," Gandhi said, adding "there is a lot at stake and benefits are immense and immeasurable if we succeed."
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