HYDERABAD: Karachi US Consulate Senior Economic Officer Richard Bakewell has said that there is much potential between Pakistan and India for greater trade. Normalisation of trade relations between two countries should be encouraged, he said, adding that the Khokhrapar-Munabao link could be an efficient mean of trade route for the two countries. He was briefly talking to reporters after holding a meeting with the president of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI), Goharullah, at his residence here on Wednesday night.

He said he was here to understand local perspective and investment climate and ruled out any third party mediation or US facilitation for normalising of trade between the two countries. There was no need for the US to play a role of intermediary in this regard.

He said he would be meeting agriculturists in Hyderabad to have their perspective to know how did they see trade prospects. There were agriculture products like onion, potatoes and tomatoes that were in great demand in India from Pakistan, he said, adding that his was just one example besides textile sector.

He said that this route could benefit local people and serve as an important mean of transit for delivering Indian goods to Karachi, he said. He said the US understood that such normalisation of trade and its expansion must be encouraged.

He also discussed infrastructure perspective in the backdrop of such trade prospects. He said that currently the route was just being used as a train link once in a week.

Mr Goharullah said it would be very beneficial if USAID initiated some projects of mutual interests in Hyderabad and in the rest of Sindh, especially in Tharparkar which lacked infrastructure in health, education and water sectors.

He said the HCCI realised importance of the Khokhrapar-Munabao rail link as it would boost economic activity in the region. This route should be utilised like the Wagah-Atari route.

He said the Pakistan government guaranteed protection to foreign investment.

He said the US government and business community could initiate launching of projects of mutual interests in Hyderabad, particularly for agro based industries.

The US official also met representatives of the Hyderabad Wholesale Fruit Merchants and Commission Agents led by its president Ziauddin.

Mr Zia informed him that the Hyderabad region was a hub of fruits, flower and vegetable production.

If cargo services were made available at Hyderabad airport, their exports could improve significantly, he said.