75
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan said on Friday that Pakistan will continue trade with its neighbours, including India, despite border tensions.
The minister said that PML-N government is committed to increase regional trade as part of promoting peace without compromising on national sovereignty. “The vision of our government is that we must trade with our neighbours,” he said.
Speaking at a consultative meeting “Trade with Neighbours: Prospects and Challenges”, organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), the minister said that the country’s current tension with India is casting a shadow on economic ties.
The minister said that Pakistan would have to trade in energy for import of electricity from India to overcome the energy crisis. The minister admitted that no doubt extraordinary concessions were given to neighbours for trade facilitation.
“We have been trying to finalise our projects with Iran as well,” the minister said, adding that due to international pressure, his government is facing difficulties according to modes of international payments. Pakistan is already purchasing electricity at Gwadar Port from Iran.
Regarding talks on trade with China, the minister stated that Pakistan has already had a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China.
“The direction of this government is to encourage investment. A new change will be noticed if Gwadar Port is linked with the North,” he said.
Pakistan, he said, was also planning to develop trading land ports at Pakistan’s three neighbouring junction points — Wagha, Torkham and Chaman — as gateways to regional trade.
State Minister for Privatisation Mohammad Zubair supported the notion of opening of border for trade with India. “Pakistan should trade with India for better standard of living of its own people,” the minister said.
“If we want to develop, we should contribute. It is not about India’s domination on us, we absolutely want good relations with India,” the minister said.
The privatisation minister said that it was time to start with a bold decision. “No country in the world can improve its relations without going into business,” he said.
In 2008, he said IBM Pakistan had 400 people while India had 75,000. Foreigners love to invest in India, the minister said.
Dr Abid Qayyum Suleri, SDPI’s Executive Director, while upholding the narrative that trade can bring peace, said that countries cannot change their neighbours and regional trade is all about neighbours, building alliance and synergies for economic and social development to minimise conflict and promote peaceful coexistence.
Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2014
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (75) Closed
Oct 25, 2014 06:54am
'IBM Pakistan had 400 people while India had 75,000. Foreigners love to invest in India, the minister said.'
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 07:51am
I commend the minister for his statements. Very positive. Hope Mushruff talks about mending fence with India rather incite people of Pakistan against India. Let us all to trade with each other and leave in peace.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 08:19am
Noble intentions !! If trade ties boom, it will undoubtedly build trust and benefit people of the region. I hope the 'Big Boys' in Pakistan understand this and rise above being spoilers !!!
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 09:30am
good
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 10:52am
What other options so you have?
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:11am
Hostilities b/w India-China , China-US , China-Japan are strategic & even deeper than b/w india-pak yet they have robust trade ralations , so sensible nations do delink trade with other disputes . So good thinking by pak , hope we respond positively
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:15am
Some sanity prevailing amidst this chaos of nationalism.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:15am
first time heard about someone talking about rights of religious minorities. Long way to go but indeed PTI knows the ground reality. Thousands of muslims (Ahmedi, Hajars migrated to other countries as refugees) those who left behind. are in no better position living under constant fears.
Hindus are migrating in huge numbers to India, everyday there are hundreds of refugees applying for asylum in India or never come to pakistan. Christians are prosecuted under Blasphemous laws made in 8th century.
I wonder where pakistan is heading- towards its self destruction by destroying the social fabric which recognize people based on there talent and contribution not just religion OR towards proving itself more Arabic race than Arabs themselves without the pertro dollars.
Its not a criticism its reality which need to be faced with courage and rationality so there can be a new and progressive pakistan. However the future looks dull in absence of any charismatic leader who can think of national interest without fear of Pakistani generals, Taliban death Threats and America.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:20am
I Like this news. We want good relations with our brother country.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:25am
Now since it's your require,net you guys want to talk about trade and all , I can assure you if you guys wouldn't have required power and all you been have been more india bashing here.... So
having favored Indo-pak friendship for long I now request my government to stop trade till you guys stop border tension and infiltration of terrorists
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:37am
'IBM Pakistan had 400 people while India had 75,000. Foreigners love to invest in India, the minister said"
Its the case with all MNCs except for "terror factories"- food for thought. Yeah?
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:38am
First give mfn status to india
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:46am
my country is destroyed by corrupt politicians . one day i hope a great leader will arrive to save our country from crisis like Mahinda Rajapaksa -srilanka, Modi- India, Abraham Lincoln-USA
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:51am
Everyone except the Army establishment wants peace with india.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:54am
24 hour electricity can do wonders to a country's trade. Modi provided 24 hours uninterrupted 3 phase electricity in Gujrat within three years, and within 2 years whole diamond industry moved to Surat(a city in Gujrat) from Mumbai. I am sure 24 hour uninterrupted power in at least one city of pakistan can give that city a huge economic and manufacturing boom. Today Modi has promised manufacturing companies in India uninterrupted electricity within two weeks of their registration, which will take only one day. India and Pakistan have much more in common than what Pakistan and China, and India and US have. Lets work towards the growth and prosperity.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:55am
It isn't rocket science to realize that india will be a really good trade partner. Problem is, India doesn't want trade with Pakistan. They want Pakistan to crumble beyond limits and that's the core problem. If India lets go of its war mongering then we can actually see peace in the region but india is power drunk and trying to ridicule where ever possible to try to mark its supremacy and that will be unacceptable to those india tries to hurt.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 11:56am
This is better and positive statement than war mongering useless sentences by few leaders like Mushy...and Billu.
What Pak needs is job creation and investment scenarios,. If it's not done Kashmir India will be of no use.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:00pm
@musthafa kamal why can't musthafa kamal be that leader?
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:07pm
Pakistan gains by having trade with India else guys who only see India as an enemy state would have starved us to death. High time India who does not get any benefit from Pakistani selective trade lets them starve to death .Remember these are same people who wanted death for India through THOUSAND CUTS.Please have no mercy. Prithviraj Chauhan showed mercy by giving pardoning Md Gauri on 16 occasions as he fell at Prithvis feet asking for mercy and in the end had to pay with own life. Hope you get my point.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:22pm
@far Dude, that's a misconception. No country will like to live adjacent to a junkyard(just for example, don't take it personally). Whenever India talk about trade, Pak bring in K word in between. As if without K word, they can't even breath. Nothing good has happened just by referring Kashmir in every talk with India. Why don't the GVT talk of development rather than talking of Kashmir? Nothing gonna change if Pak keep referring Kashmir in every talks.
If Pak govt will say let's take Kashmir form India, whole Pak will unite but if govt says let's talk trade with Indian, I doubt same will be the response form people of Pak.
The govt has inducted this K word in Paki people so badly that they don't think anything else. Yaar in last 65 years what good have you done other than fighting war with India on the name of Kashmir? What good Kashmir has done to you people? why can't you keep this topic aside and say let's talk development. Country with a great potential.
Why is it that IBM has employed 400 from Pak and 75k (I bet you it's more than 100k now) from India when there is not much difference between the people of these two states who were part of same country before 1947.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:33pm
But why India want to export electricity? Are we running in surplus. Look at U.P. largest state facing severe crisis.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:36pm
Considering the the majority support Modi Govt. enjoys it is interesting to see if they finally be able to help the civilian govt. of Pakistan achieving the desired normalcy in Indo/Pak relationship despite of the fact that Pak may not be ready for that. Fail on India's part will delay its goal to become top economic power.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:38pm
“The vision of our government is that we must help expand sugar business of Sharif Khandan"
Fixed :)
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:39pm
Peace should be estabalished between India and pakistan for the welfare of people living along border.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:42pm
India does not connect trade and business with political or military or religion and looks only at economic prosperity. Pakistan is a more natural partner to work with India. Military leaders and religious leaders play spoil sport to support their agenda.
India - China has nothing in common. Rather there are multiple differences of opinion and both countries keep warning each other for military or political reasons. However Chinese investments in India and the over business relationship has increased significantly over time. Business is isolated from non-business skirmishes and neither country would compromise on their interests or give in to political pressure. Similarly India is very different from other business partners like US, Japan, Australia, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Canada, Saudi etc.. However, business is increasing with these countries significantly.
India and Pakistan are natural partners. However, we have not isolated trade and business from other issues which is not good for the interest of either country.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:44pm
PML-N must show some honor and guts in tackling with Indian threats and saber rattling and cease all trade and commerce talks with India until they learn how to behave themselves in the International community!
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:45pm
@far Dear far why do you think India is dying to establish its supremacy on a failed state like Pakistan??? What they will achieve from that??? Is it not in India's interest to have a good trade partner in Pakistan??? In India its not army but business community influence foreign policy.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:49pm
@anshul it's only problem of up government. UP government has not paid electricity bill NTPC . Various time NPTC said that he would be ready for supply electricity to any state of India but state must paid to our bill. This id totally government fault beacause power department has failed to collect electricity bill from every counsumer due to some political and other reason . You can see other information on website of NTPC .
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:50pm
@M. Emad Has honorable minister ever pondered over reasons for foreigners keen to invest in India and avoiding investment in Pakistan. Has he ever spelt out these reasons at any forum. Increased trade with India is NOT going to address these causes, which among others include poor law & order, kickbacks practices, cumbersome procedures despite claims of one-window services. These are hollow speeches having catchy words incorporated into these speeches.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 12:57pm
OH! This is bad news. ZAK, can you see what is happening...At least now aren't you ashamed of yourself?
“Pakistan should trade with India for better standard of living of its own people,” the minister said.
Seems like, you can't survive without us.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:13pm
The Ultimate desire for common people of both countries are "Roti Kapda Aur Makan " . If smallest of initiative promises to provide employment to an person in either of the 2 countries, it should be a welcome step and encouraged. If people are happy and well fed, nothing else matters.
.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:29pm
These days DAWN does not seem to publish all comments even ones that dont criticize pakistan for some reason.
Let us see now. It is good to read some article that talks of Indo-Pak trade and not war. India has set aside in its
budget some relief for the refinery in Punjab, India which was supposed to send over petroleum products to
Pakistan which means Indian Government is forgoing some revenue so we can start mutually beneficial trade.
Any fair minded person will see that India has no reason to start any provocative firing on any border since it is
courting investments from Japan, china and America. No one will want to invest in a country that has war prospects.
The point is that creating tension on the border only enhances the staying power of one institution of one country.
If you do more trade that does not mean you give up any of your legitimate geographical territory. It just allows us
both to deal with thorny issues in a mature manner when we both have interests in each other's well being. This
approach though diminishes the influence of one institution.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:30pm
@Haider Rehman , India is producing surplus sugar ..this is FYI..
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:49pm
@Niran Salehjee ok Please. Stop trade with India. happy now?
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:50pm
@far
india is ahead of pakistan in all aspects & thats a fact
so why should india treat pakistan as equal
India competition is with china & not pakistan
kashmir issue has harmed pakistan progress but has made no difference to india
so who is the looser
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:54pm
India and Pakistan trade has been going on indirectly through Dubai for ages. For this both the countries pay high rates for the same items they could have bought directly. But thanks to some ulta-nationalistic Indians and Pakistanis the rest of the nations suffer.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:55pm
@Niran Salehjee and this way you will have 0 count in ibm rolls- keep it up
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:55pm
@musthafa kamal Everything is not about leaders, responsibility also lies with the people who elect such corrupt leaders.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:56pm
@Niran Salehjee and who is loosing coz of this mongering? India? Think dude
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:56pm
@Haider Rehman if what you said is true, than its also good for pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 01:56pm
This is not at all a good news for the notorious pakistani military establishment. They get noticed only when there is a problem with India and hence they will never prefer this option even though the civilian leadership opt for it.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 02:00pm
Thanks for having a large heart and for saving India and making India rich by doing trade.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 02:06pm
Border tensions have gone on for 67 years. Lets keep working at other stuff, while trying to improve on that front too. I am not a believer in Nawaz, but he is definitely showing more maturity than any Pakistani Politician till date.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 02:06pm
India should not go overboard and please pakistan at the cost of people of India , why provide cheap electricity to pakistan when india does not have sufficient electricity , look what happened to US despite all the money given to pakistan , it is the most hated nation, same thing will befall on india and relations will sour more than ever and indians will be at loss.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 02:10pm
@anshul in up electricity supply is 17 hours in villege area. now no more electricity shortage in up. our chief minister is doing much better than modi.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 02:17pm
Let alone IBM , There are a lot of Indian behind every successful MNCs worldwide... be it Apple,Goldman Sachs,Microsoft ,Yahoo ,Adobe , Google,NASA etc....to name a few... check the facts and it will be an eye-opener for Pakistan..
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 02:32pm
L.O.C being recognized as permanent border (with free movement for kashmiris ) could be the only solution for hundreds of problems faced by people on both sides.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 02:53pm
Why not? After all its Pakistan who had started border shelling.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 02:53pm
Has pakistan given MFN status to India yet? India did it a decade back.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 03:03pm
Peace is the only option for both, India and Pakistan.
The recent skirmishes were very much expected due to the jingoistic and communal mind of Modi.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 03:15pm
Great statement at the cost of innocent people blood. So what progress always demands for bloodshed!
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 03:21pm
@up jaunpur Biggest Joke. 17 hours electricity in a day in UP in the 21st century. That is why UP does not prosper like Gujarat or Maharashtra.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 03:30pm
@Mission Peace Negative thinking is poisnous
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 03:31pm
@sajid Negative thi
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 03:34pm
@Anand What do you mean
.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 03:50pm
sir, my question is to all my friends and readers, whenever we talk about trade and business etc on international platform, one must keep his religion at home or at country inside only. india never play religious card or any dev. country never play such thing, then only progree can be achieved. see all dev. coun. they have never played. while in the case of pak, their extremist always take objection and govt. seems to be helpless, then what is the use of business with pak. it is the last effort of pak. to play religios card on international platform. see mushraff and supporter. pak. govt allow him to speak whatever he wants to speak on news channel. that is hatration.. towards india.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 03:57pm
No trade until Kashmiris are given the right of self determination and India stops supporting TTP and terrorists in Balochistan. Pakistan must also block the trade route between India and Afghanistan until they stop supporting TTP.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 04:21pm
@Aamchi Mumbai ofcourse our state is not developed in perspective of industry.electricity is not only one reason for this, there r many other reason too. we are the biggest grain producer state in country.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 05:07pm
@indian MFN status for India is not going to gappen as long as part of our Muslim majority country Kashmir is occupied by India. It is very simple!
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 05:10pm
@sajid Don't be silly. All want peace. But you know as long a India continue to occupy Kashmir peace is a mirage. Pakistani soldiers are killed at the borders so people like you can sleep in peace. So very ungreatful of you.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 05:16pm
Keeping trade going is definitely a good idea. Recently the union minister in India said that we want to negotiate and settle our border issues with honour, we don't want peace without honour. The PM of Pakistan should learn a thing or two from this. As for Musharraf trying to incite Pakistanis, well his was a simple question. Pakistan is currently bogged down in frontier areas, why would they want to open another front? Just take a look at the whole situation...elections in some Indian states, BJP govt in India, Pakistani forces bogged down in frontier...who benefits from the tension on Pakistan & Indian border? Is it Pakistan? Or is it India? Indian accusations remind me of Israel accusing Syria of terror attacks in Lebanon, when it was damn clear that the former was the biggest beneficiary of such attacks. But media finds it difficult to ask logical questions, may be something to do with revenues.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 05:33pm
At last some wise words from the pak.side.Very happy.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 06:18pm
@Shah sorry to have stepped on your tail, forgot that army people like yiu also read this. And you prove my point. One thing on mind, Kashmir, is not doing anything for pakistan. So let's move on for now and revisit this when we have gained some international respect by actually serving our masses.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 06:29pm
@far ..use yr brains and not propoganda to state yr conclusion about what Indiawants 2 pak....our concern is ..stop state and non state terrorism in our country....thats it...infact Stable and democratic pak is in our favour....we love to trade and help u guys grow...but ask few powerful elites...mainly from army in yr country...do they want it 2 happen?...their existance will be at stake if that happens
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 06:55pm
@Shah you are wrong. Kashmir was not part of Pakistan. Kashmir is occoupied by both country india and Pakistan . Both country have loose their shouldier due to cross firing incident. Pakistan had launched jihaad in Kashmir in 1990 era for capture Kashmir but every time he failed in his goals .Kashmir issues is created by Pakistan and India have no interest to capture remaining part of Kashmir but Pakistan is trying till date.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 06:59pm
@Robin New Delhi
Don't be spoiler! Respect increases by giving respect to weak and fallen opponent.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 07:01pm
Pakistan needs successful businessmen running pakistan and not cricketers and feudal lords and technocrats and military officers.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 07:44pm
Sensible talk.
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 07:45pm
Sense and sensibility
Yogi
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 07:51pm
@Mission Peace
Islam is second largest religion in India.
We had three Muslim presidents.
Last foreign Minister was Muslim.
Some best doctors,Nuclear scientists and from all fields,muslim contribution is immense
Best Bollywood actors Past and present are muslims.There is no much space here to write more.
Yogi
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 07:54pm
@anshul
Eletricity is not like any other commodity.
The trade is tricky.You have to use on the moment,otherwise its wasted.
Like in air travel,tickets sold or not,plane will fly.If you don't have passengers,you hv lost.Like that
Recommend
0
Oct 25, 2014 08:14pm
Pakistani rulers are destroying Pakistan for their selfish ends who are obstructing normalization of relations with India. Most of politicians are involved in mass looting of public money as was done by Nawaj sharif & Bhutto family at the cost of people. The military rulers are creating artificial tensions on borders which is causing heavy losses of money & manpower which is increasing heavy financial burden on people. All these facts must be seriously considered by public of Pakistan & all greedy & useless rulers should be kicked out to improve present precarious economic conditions created in Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 26, 2014 02:14am
@anshul It is true that there are many Indian states that don't have enough electricity. But it is going to cost more to the states when they buy due to the long distance it require to transfer. For eg: The surplus electricity produced by Gujarat and Rajastan can be easily sold to Pakistan with good affordable rates since they are geographically closer to those states than Indian states like Kerala/Orissa/UP which are far away.
Recommend
0
Oct 26, 2014 04:35am
@Lucky Star enough of respect and admiration from our side since we don't get the same from you guys.......
Recommend
0
Oct 26, 2014 12:06pm
@far why not Pakistan declare LOC as international border then see the wonders happening between India and Pakistan beyond trade and culture.
Recommend
0
