March, 15 2005	Tuesday	04 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, March 14: Indian Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh (retired) says the continuation of the ongoing peace dialogue between Pakistan and India will help the two countries come closer and resolve disputes.

“After the initiation of the peace dialogue between the two countries solutions to outstanding disputes will be found. Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and I am making efforts to bring the two countries closer,” Capt Singh said on his arrival at the Wagah border on Monday morning.

He was given a rousing welcome on his arrival at the head of a 62-member delegation comprising two ministers, a parliamentary secretary, businessmen and journalists.

Mr Singh said he had brought the message of love from (Indian) Punjab for all Pakistanis. Comparing the peace effort with a growing child, he said it required time to be strengthened. “Once the child starts walking, he sure will be running soon.”

Answering a question about the outcome of his first visit here last year, the Indian chief minister said it had helped increase exchange of sports and cultural activities, and he was hopeful that this visit would help knit business ties too.

“The businessmen with me will explore investment opportunities here for promoting trade links between our two countries,” he said.

Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, who received his counterpart from the Indian Punjab, said the visit of Capt Singh would help strengthen bonds of friendship. “Visiting each other’s country helps develop better understanding,” he said.

During his four-day stay, Mr Singh will visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal and the birth place of Baba Guru Nanak in the Nankana Sahib and watch a play, Anarkali, at the Lahore Fort.

He will also call on President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Husain in Islamabad.

Students of various girls schools and colleges were assembled at Wagah to greet the Indian chief minister and his delegation.

Roads leading to Wagah were decorated with welcome banners and buntings. Thousands of primary class students of different public and private schools, who were brought early in the morning by their teachers on the direction of the government, had to wait for about four hours to welcome the Indian guests on a warm day. Various local music groups also performed at different places along the route, as the guests’ motorcade drove past. “We have received an unprecedented welcome,” said K.S. Parwana, a visiting journalist from Jullandhar. He said he had visited Lahore along with former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 but today’s welcome was unbelievable.

Some provincial ministers, secretaries, the DCO and the city Nazim were also present.

LCCI: Later speaking to a gathering of businessmen, Capt Singh underscored the need for enhancing business and trade relations between India and Pakistan. He said trade and borders between India and Pakistan would open up. Expressing hope, he said the day when Pakistanis would be investing in India and Indians in Pakistan was not far off.

He also proposed the signing of an MoU, making Wagah a free trade zone. He said peace talks between the two countries had progressed a great deal. He, however, called for speeding up resolution of outstanding disputes.

He gave details of steps being taken by his government to encourage industrialization in the Indian State of Punjab, saying industrialization was necessary for rapid economic progress and development.

In a reference to huge indirect trade volume between the two neighbours via a third country, he called for increasing direct trade. “It (trade through a third country) makes no sense. We must work for increasing direct trade.”

He also sought to allay fears that Indian products would swarm Pakistan’s market if allowed unhindered access. “Don’t fear that. Start at a small level and gradually increase it,” he advised.

He said the world was becoming smaller and “if you don’t keep up with it, you’ll be left behind. Neither India nor Pakistan can afford to be left behind if they want to help their poor improve their lives. They would have to stay ahead of others if they want to make progress.”

Capt Singh said both Punjabs should cooperate with each other to benefit from each other through agricultural exchanges. He said: “We are ready to provide agricultural technology and inputs to you.” He also proposed to take concrete measures to promote Punjabi and hold a Punjabi film festival.