14 March 2004	Sunday	22 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, March 13: Indian Trade and Industry Minister Arun Jitley arrived for an exclusively private stay for a day in Karachi and left quietly back home on Saturday evening after watching the thrilling first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and India at the National Stadium.

At National Stadium, the Indian minister kept a very low profile and held a mere courteous meeting with the Federal Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat and Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Rashid.

Indian trade and industry minister is reported to have held quiet dinner meeting with over two dozen Pakistani businessmen on Friday evening at the residence of a local business leader. Jitley reportedly asked his host to keep the media men away from him because he has deviated from election campaigning to come to Karachi for a day stay.

Businessmen in Karachi expect Indian Trade minister sometimes next month either at the 'Made in India' exhibition scheduled in April or in a event related with Pakistan-India business relationship. "But then it is still a mere possibility and not confirmed," a businessman said while explaining that the first phase of Indian election polling is due in April. The ruling coalition led by BJP is in contest with an alliance led by the Indian National Congress in which Pakistan peace card is being played by both the united fronts but in different ways.

In last four or five months as many as half a dozen businessmen team had visited India from Pakistan and except for a few, an overwhelming majority look keen for a meaningful trade and economic relationship between the two countries.

Businessmen in Karachi found their business friends in India open and frank to discuss threadbare any trade issue that may be hurting Pakistan's economy. The main business issues now being discussed is to strengthen a block of developing countries in the WTO to resist pressure of the multinationals. "Beyond trade, the businessmen want joint ventures to be set up in India and Pakistan and even in other countries," a local business leader said.