January 19, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 18, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: The Indian business delegation on Wednesday urged early implementation of the South Asia Free Trade Area (Safta) agreement to increase the regional trade particularly between Pakistan and India.

This was stated by leader of the 25-member delegation of leading businessmen Sanjev Bawa from Punjab (Bharat) who visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Wednesday.

He said that trade would enhance, if the two governments acted upon Safta. He said visa restriction was the main hurdle between both the countries. He said they had visited Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and industry and came to know that the chamber was providing service to sports goods Industry in India.

Such exchange of services would provide chance to the people of both the countries to come closer, he said. He said that bus and train service would also add to closer ties between the people.

He said that last year’s $1 billion trade volume between the two countries was very low as compared to the potential between the countries.

Pakistan has allowed import of steel from India, this is the reason that members of Indian delegation mostly belong to steel Industry but the permission was for a limited period, he said.

The ICCI President Abdul Rauf said business community of both the countries should force their governments for resolution of the core issue which is stumbling block in good trade relations.

Pakistan and India are taking confidence building measures for the last two years to resolve core issue of Kashmir between the countries to improve bilateral relations and trade, he added.

Mr Rauf said that world was becoming the global village frontiers are diminishing, trade barriers are being reduced. In the international market only those will survive who would produce better quality products.

He said that during the last two years Indo-Pakistan relations had improved like trade through Wagha rail service, bus service between Amritsar and Nankana Sahib.