KARACHI, Sept 2: “Increased trade and investment between Pakistan and India would be the harbinger of peace and friendship and could go a long way to mitigate distrust and hostility between the two neighbours”.

This was stated by Dr Mandip Sharma, an Indian jewellery designer and a trader of commodities, while addressing guests at the launching of the joint venture called Maaic Designs in Karachi recently.

“The Indian businessmen are keen to enhance bilateral trade and investment and are willing to transfer technology, expertise, and knowledge so that there is a strong industrial and commercial base in the Saarc region,” said Sharma.

She added that under this joint venture she would be creating Indian designs and would transfer technical, marketing and presentation expertise to her Pakistani partners, the Aftab Brothers, who would create jewellery for the domestic market as well as for exports.

She called for inclusion of gems and jewellery in the positive list for imports from India into Pakistan.

Dr Sharma, founder President of Association of Women Entrepreneurs and Career Women (India), complimented the Government of Pakistan for giving attention to the gem and jewellery sector and said that the industry had potential and needed to be nurtured.

KCCI former president Majyd Aziz in his address demanded that instead of a positive list the Commerce Ministry should have a negative list for imports from India. He called for more joint ventures and asked the Indian commerce minister to initiate measures to import more from Pakistan.

He disclosed that there was a potential for export of 500,000 metric tons of cement to India.

Shehla Raza, Deputy Speaker of Sindh Assembly, in her keynote address said that Benazir Bhutto had always championed the rights of women. She hoped for more economic interaction between Pakistan and India.

Abdul Kader Jaffer, chairman of Pakistan Japan Business Forum, highlighted the imperative need for more trade and called for even trilateral trade so that the third country could be the focal point in bringing Pakistan and India closer.