The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Indian High Commission (IHC) have agreed to work hand-in-hand to remove all hitches to peace and bilateral trade between the two countries. This understanding was reached between the LCCI President Engineer Suhail Lashari and Indian High Commissioner T C A Raghavan during an exclusive meeting, sources said.
The sources claimed that the Indian Commissioner also promised to take appropriate measures to make customs clearance time-bound, as delay in the clearance of goods has become a Non-Tariff Barrier. Both the sides were convinced that complete restoration of peace between the two countries is a prerequisite to regional peace; therefore, all energies would be utilised to thwart attempts to destabilise peace, the sources added.
The Indian diplomat also agreed to work with the LCCI for the promotion of tourism in the two countries that holds a huge potential, the sources claimed. "Rather we should chalk out a plan for the promotion of group tourism and in this regard steps need to be taken to create awareness among the people of two sides," Raghavan said, adding: "Infrastructure development at land routes with particular reference to Wagah-Attari border also came under discussion."
The Indian High Commissioner also pledged to extend every possible support to Saarc exhibition being arranged by the Lahore Chamber. The chamber President told the Indian diplomat that the LCCI was doing its best to take two-way trade to new heights. He said that trade between the two countries was the only tool to bring the two people further close, therefore the two government should give a free hand to their respective private sectors who have the ability to make inroads.
Moreover, the LCCI President, Senior Vice President Mian Tariq Misbah and Vice President Kashif Anwar have sought government intervention to end goods transporters strike that is not only causing delay of inland supplies and export consignments also incurring billions of rupees loss to the private sector and government alike.
In the prevailing scenario, business community cannot afford an indefinite strike by goods' transporters that has so far caused a loss of about Rs 15 billion, they said, adding: "The bonded transporters' strike, along with the Muharram holidays, will further delay inland supplies and export consignment, besides resulting in severe congestion at ports."
They said that immovable containers loaded with agricultural commodities will also result in shortages of these commodities in the local markets and encourage black marketers. Every issue could be settled through talks but abruptly announcing an indefinite strike was not a wise move, they said. They added that the economic activities have come to a grinding halt due to the strike while a number of industrial units were fast heading towards closure due to non-availability of raw materials. They demanded of the government to take matter of transporters seriously and solve the issue on war footing as non-availability of industrial goods was hampering the economic activities and exporters would not be able to fulfil their commitments with their foreign buyers.
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