Pak-India Joint Business Council (PIJBC) is holding its first-ever meeting on June 29, 2013 in Islamabad to discuss ways and means to promote trade relations between the two countries, well-informed sources told Business Recorder. The sources said, "Indian tycoons like Mukesh Ambani and Rajan Bharti Mittal will attend the meeting, expected to lay the groundwork for improved trade relations between the two nuclear South Asian countries".
Establishments of both countries advise caution on promotion of relations. However, the ministries dealing with trade want normalisation of trade ties. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry is also distancing itself from the Commerce Ministry on trade normalisation process, saying that progress on all issues should be at the same pace.
Indian delegation will comprise Sunil Kant Munjal, Past-President, CII and Chairman Hero Corporate Services Limited; Ajay S Shriram, Vice President, CII and Chairman and SMD DCM Shiram Consolidated Pvt Ltd; Hari S Bhartia, Past-President, CII and co-chairman and MD Jubiliant Life Sciences Ltd; Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman and MD Bharti Enterprises Limited ; Dr Naresh Trehan Chairman and MD; Medanta the Madicity, Deepak Puri, Chairman & MD Moser Baer; R S Pawar, Founder and Chairman NIIT Group of Companies ; Pratip Chaudhuri, Chairman State Bank of India; Sudhir Vasudeva, Chairman and MD ONGC Limited ; Onkar S Kanwar, Chairman and MD Apollo Tyres Limited; Rajan Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman and MD Bharti Enterprises Limited ; Harsh Pati Singhania, Managing Director JK Paper Limited ; Dr Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson, Director FICCI Committee on Tourism and Bharat Hotels Limited; Vikramjit Singh Sahney, President, SCCI and MD Sun International Pvt Ltd and Tantra Narayan Thakur Chairman and MD PTC India.
The Indian delegation is scheduled to meet Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and request him to accord Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India as approved by the PPP government. However, the decision of the Cabinet remained unimplemented due to pressure groups within and outside the Pakistani establishment.
Pakistani side will be represented by Basher Ali Muhammad, Chairman, Gul Ahmed Textile; Muhammad Ali Tabba, CE, Lucky Cement; Abdul Razak Dawood, Chairman, Descon Engineering; Sikandar Mustafa Khan, Chairman, Millat Tractors; Nauman Dar, President and CEO, Habib Bank Limited; S M Muneer, Chairman, Din Group of Industries; Iftikhar Ali Malik, Owner, Guard Group of Companies; Dr Muhammad Tariq Bucha, President, Farmers Associates, Pakistan; Islam Saleem, Chairman, Security Packers; Tariq Rafi, Director, Siddiqsons Denim Mills Limited and Canvas Company of Pakistan (Pvt) Limited. Director-MCB Bank; Syed Yawar Ali, Chairman, Nestle Pakistan; Shabbir Diwan, Director, Gatron (Industries) Limited; Dr Syed Nadeem Qamar, President, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture; Noor Muhammad Kasuri, Chairman, Pakistan-India Business Council, Chairman, Petronet Holding; Ilyas Bilour, Member Senate, Pakistan;
Some other top Indian business tycoons and investors outside the PIJBC are also expected to be part of the Indian delegation. Likewise some top Pakistani tycoons will be part of the meetings. When contacted, one of the members of the PIJBC told Business Recorder that the meeting is introductory and its formal agenda will be finalised at an internal meeting of Pakistani members.
Commerce Ministry is also launching studies by eminent economist Dr Hafeez Pasha and others on prospects of enhancement of trade with India on July 1, in Islamabad, July 2 in Lahore and July 4 in Karachi. According to sources, Commerce Ministry officials will also give presentations to the participants about benefits of trade normalisation with India.
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