LAHORE The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tuesday urged the Iranian authorities not to close Taftan border for trade purposes.
Chamber President Mian Muzaffar Ali and Exise and Taxation Standing Committee Convenor Shahzad Azam Khan said that the LCCI fully supported the closure of borders for all traffic other than trade caravans, since trade between Iran and Pakistan occurs exclusively by land routes.
They said that the sealing of the border was therefore hurting the trade between the two countries contrary to the efforts of the two governments to increase the bilateral trade volume.
Security was the internal issue of every country and it had the right to take every step for the purpose but it was also required to take care of the business community as well. They recommended that the authorities of both the countries sit together and evolve a strategy for continuation of trade involving millions of dollars.
They said that it was a matter of great satisfaction for the business community that both Pakistan and Iran were sincerely and seriously working to further smoothen and broaden their trade relations. Concrete measures were, however, required to check smuggling. They proposed issuance of Express Immigration Cards to the leading businessmen so that they could be able to travel to Iran for business purposes with maximum ease.
They said that trade between the two countries was not significant due to high regime of customs duties on Pakistani products as compared to other countries. Lack of logistic infrastructure was another hurdle in improving business relations. Pakistan was known all over the world for its textile potential and products, which still needs to be properly introduced and marketed in Iran. Similarly, products like plastic and petrochemicals were being transported from Iran to Pakistan through irregular channels.
The LCCI stressed the need for better utilization of resources in the fields of agriculture, mineral, post harvest technologies like processing, storage, packaging and transportation etc, dairy sector, meat and the food processing sector. There was also a lot of scope for collaboration in energy sector, paper and board, sugar, cement, chemicals, textiles and hides, transport and communication, construction of roads, scientific and educational cooperation, handicrafts, jewellery, carpets, fancy furniture etc.
They said that both the countries need to have the highest level of bilateral trade to cope with global challenges but lack of information was coming in the way. The goal could be achieved with frequent exchange of trade delegations and holding of joint trade exhibitions.
