A high-level 18-member Pak parliamentarians and traders delegation will leave for India on a four-day visit via Wagha border on August 22 for the promotion of durable peace, harmony and expedite the flow of trade among SAARC member countries.
Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pak chapter, who will represent Pakistan's private sector while talking to APP on Sunday, said that the delegation was visiting India at the invitation of President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vikramjit Singh Sahney.
He said that no policy could be successful if stakeholders were not taken into confidence and without streamlining trade barriers for trade promotion and accelerate the economic activities among SAARC member countries especially Indo-Pak as both the countries were key players in whole of the South Asian region. He said that the Pak delegation, apart from having series of meetings with their counterparts, would also participate in the 4th round of India-Pakistan parliamentarians dialogue.
He stressed said it was the urgent need of the hour that Saarc members must address their mutual disputes for exploiting economic potential of the region mired in poverty as no country can live in isolation in the prevailing global scenario.
He said that visa relaxation, frequent exchange of delegations in agriculture, health, education, engineering and other allied sectors, besides transfer of technology and expertise could help improve socio-economic condition of poor strata of the region. He said efforts would also be made to remove fears and apprehensions of Indian traders with the sole objective of rapid industrialisation in both the countries without damanging their respective industries.
Iftikhar Ali Malik said that scope of joint ventures with Indian investors would also be explored besides turning time consuming irregular trade into regular trade between the both countries which he added would save billions of dollar.
He said that the Indian government, SAARC CCI and World Punjab Organisation are host and have arranged grand receptions at New Delhi and Patna for the Pak delegation during their stay.
He said SAARC could be turned into a vibrant forum for the benefit and socio economic prosperity of the region if they get together to solve their problems.
"The bilateral disputes of the SAARC countries particularly between India and Pakistan have been hindering the success of the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) however, the recent developments between the two countries was very much encouraging," said Iftikhar Ali Malik. Member of the delegation include leader of the House in Senate Jehangir Badar,Deputy Chairman Senate,Sabir Ali Baloch,Mrs.Saeeda Iqbal, Mushahid Hussain Syed,Haji Muhammad Adeel,Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Faisal Karim Khundi,Mian Abdus Sattar, Nadeem Afzal Gondal,Nafisa Shah,Shazia Marri,Remesh Lal,Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah,Mir Amer Ali Khan Magsi,Anusha Rehman Khan and engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan.