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KARACHI, March 10: The Consul General of Federal Republic of Germany Verena Grafin von Roedern said on Thursday that Pakistan?s image had improved, which could be gauged from the fact that the number of foreign visitors was increasing rapidly but a lot more was still needed to be done by Pakistani missions abroad.
Addressing members of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), she said that Pakistan and many other countries are not only facing security problem but a changed world economic situation as a result of opening up of Eastern Europe, which had compelled EU to change its priorities.
?It is natural that when a market is available at next door one does not look at for off places, and this was exactly what was going on in Europe which now prefers to do business with next door neighbours that is Eastern Europe,? she observed.
Nevertheless, the German envoy said in Pakistan things are moving on right direction and President Pervez Musharraf himself made a number of visits to foreign countries for image improving of the country but yet a lot could be done particularly by the foreign missions, which should be more active.
However, she said some teething problems still exist at lower level of bureaucracy and such matters are normal in many countries but added that you have to work to improve law and order situation and should not feel relaxed by simply saying that this problem was being confronted by many other countries of the world as well.
She said one should trust legal system to avoid problems and SMEs cannot afford to enter into legal battle and suggested that International Arbitration agreement should be followed to sort out trade disputes.
She said her government had to look into legal aspect of matters when issuing travel advisory to its citizens because many a time they took the government to the court of law for not intimating them.
Referring to a point raised by the chairman PHMA Aslam Ahmed Karsaz she said that GSP plus is a unilateral scheme and it has to have a majority vote of the EU members and added that some time political agreement do not come up with legal system.
She further said that Pakistan do not qualify for or meet the GSP plus scheme conditions which Least Development Countries (LDCs) do because even Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have categorically said that Pakistan no more needs IMF assistance.
The Germany envoy advised the PHMA members to go for higher quality and invest in technology and ensure timely delivery. She said two basic conditions or you can say demands are there from German buyers and they normally seek quality along with timely delivery of goods.
She said that terrorism does not originate from people who have empty stomachs rather it comes from educated and well fed people and the 9/11 incident is an example where all involved were educated and belonged to well to do families. Therefore to demand that Pakistan should be given concessions under GSP plus to check unemployment which will directly help to check terrorism was not true.
However, former chairman PHMA Zubair Mootiwala strongly took this issue by saying that there was strong feeling amongst exporters that the West was trying to make Pakistan supplier of semi-finished goods by restricting its exports to yarn and fabric.
Addressing members of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), she said that Pakistan and many other countries are not only facing security problem but a changed world economic situation as a result of opening up of Eastern Europe, which had compelled EU to change its priorities.
?It is natural that when a market is available at next door one does not look at for off places, and this was exactly what was going on in Europe which now prefers to do business with next door neighbours that is Eastern Europe,? she observed.
Nevertheless, the German envoy said in Pakistan things are moving on right direction and President Pervez Musharraf himself made a number of visits to foreign countries for image improving of the country but yet a lot could be done particularly by the foreign missions, which should be more active.
However, she said some teething problems still exist at lower level of bureaucracy and such matters are normal in many countries but added that you have to work to improve law and order situation and should not feel relaxed by simply saying that this problem was being confronted by many other countries of the world as well.
She said one should trust legal system to avoid problems and SMEs cannot afford to enter into legal battle and suggested that International Arbitration agreement should be followed to sort out trade disputes.
She said her government had to look into legal aspect of matters when issuing travel advisory to its citizens because many a time they took the government to the court of law for not intimating them.
Referring to a point raised by the chairman PHMA Aslam Ahmed Karsaz she said that GSP plus is a unilateral scheme and it has to have a majority vote of the EU members and added that some time political agreement do not come up with legal system.
She further said that Pakistan do not qualify for or meet the GSP plus scheme conditions which Least Development Countries (LDCs) do because even Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have categorically said that Pakistan no more needs IMF assistance.
The Germany envoy advised the PHMA members to go for higher quality and invest in technology and ensure timely delivery. She said two basic conditions or you can say demands are there from German buyers and they normally seek quality along with timely delivery of goods.
She said that terrorism does not originate from people who have empty stomachs rather it comes from educated and well fed people and the 9/11 incident is an example where all involved were educated and belonged to well to do families. Therefore to demand that Pakistan should be given concessions under GSP plus to check unemployment which will directly help to check terrorism was not true.
However, former chairman PHMA Zubair Mootiwala strongly took this issue by saying that there was strong feeling amongst exporters that the West was trying to make Pakistan supplier of semi-finished goods by restricting its exports to yarn and fabric.
