Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal has said that India was making adequate efforts to resolve all unresolved issues through dialogues with Pakistan. Pakistan had showed its positive response during dialogue held in recent past, which is highly encouraging factor, he said. The High Commissioner said that though the dissection on bilateral trade was top on agenda of mutual dialogues, but all other unresolved issues were given due attention in the meeting of two sides.
Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Tuesday, here he said India want to resolve all issues through dialogues and peacefully with Pakistan. Indian and Pakistani business communities were willing and keen to promote and expand economic and trade relations with the concept of enhancing the volume of bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries he said.
The High Commissioner said that strenuous efforts would be made for increasing the bilateral trade volume from 2 billion dollars to 6 billion dollars adding that India prefer to promote and expand the trade and commerce activities with Pakistan.
He said that a separate gate and other facilities were being established at Wagha border for speedy handling of export cargo, adding that the establishment of a separate gate will provide hurdle free transportation facilities at the boarder. About Non-Tariff Barrier he said that a team of Indian experts would vision Pakistan in near future to discuss certain issues with their Pakistan counterparts.
In his address of welcome, President SCCI Naeem Anwar Qureshi said the visit of Indian High Commissioner to Sialkot would go a long way in creating better understanding between business communities of two neighbouring countries as well as it will help in creating new areas of commercial interaction to far-reaching effect on expanding bilateral trade. Both countries need to avoid short-sighted policies, which had resulted in bedevilling their relations in the past and diverting attention from the gigantic task of eradicating poverty and raising the standard of living of their peoples, he said.
The SCCI President said that trade between India and Pakistan has been steady as imports from India in 2010 were 1560 million dollars while exports from Pakistan to India during the same period were 275 million dollars. With the steps being taken by two sides making headway towards better understanding and keenness to improve trade, we hope that things will improve rapidly to open a new era of economic co-operation, friendly relations and trade boost to bring prosperity, happiness and peace to our people, he added.