Acting Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Pakistan and Consul General of Russia Valadimir D Mikhaylov urged all the diplomats in Pakistan they should play their role to help development of Pakistan economic. Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) with Karachi based diplomats on Thursday, he pointed out the diplomats in Karachi gathering information about Pakistan economy from media which some time varies. He advised KCCI to recently provide economic development information to the diplomats.
The Dean of Diplomatic Corps said the diplomats were ready to play their role in improving Pakistan image abroad. He noted the situation was not as bad as projected by the media. However, he added there was still room for improving conditions in the country.
He said the role of diplomats was to promote relations and boost economic ties. He informed a trade delegation from Moscow would visit Pakistan in next few days. He also said two big exhibitions including oil and gas were scheduled to be held in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of Trade and Investment British Deputy High Commission Hamish St Clair Daniel-OBE - hoped that European Union (EU) would grant Generalised System of Preference (GSP) status to Pakistan soon.
He said the UK enjoyed best relations with Pakistan and added the two-way trades had registered significant increase in last few years. He pointed out a very large number of British trade delegations visited Pakistan to invest as well as to boost trade.
He said in last two years the British High Commission had granted around 10,000 student visas. Regarding travel advise, he said the travel advises were issued after reviewing the situation. The advices do not restrict travelling, he added. He said the Mother Care chain of stores in UK would soon open its branch in Pakistan.
Consul General of USA Douglas C Rohn said in last two years, Pakistan had made tremendous progress in economic fields. He noted that USA had supported Pakistan in a big way. He advised business community to conduct market survey of foreign countries to boost trade.
He pointed out Singles Company had invested around dollars 200 million in textile sector. About travel advises, he said it was a legal binding on us to issue such advises to protect out citizens. We have to give explanation if any USA citizen get hurt in any country, he added.
Secretary General Islamic Chamber of Commerce Aqeel A Jaseem advised Pakistani business community to travel abroad and make contact with business community to improve Pakistan's image. He said only Pakistani could play an important role in improving Pakistan image. He said the chamber wanted to improve relations of developed and developing countries.
Consul General of Bangladesh Abdul Hanan said South Asia Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) would be implemented by January 2006. He said the KCCI could play an important role in implementation of SAPTA. He said the region would progress considerably after implementation of SAPTA.
Welcoming the guests, KCCI President Khalid Firoz noted the developed countries were providing subsidies to their agricultural products at the rate of about dollars one billion a day. He said the core issue of tariff rationalisation and subsidies on agricultural products to the disadvantage of developing countries, like Pakistan, was still pending.
He said it was essential that Pakistan products must be provided more access in the markets of developed countries, so that Pakistan economies could flourish and contribute towards addressing the twin-problems of poverty and unemployment.