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India has allowed Pakistani industrialists to set up industries there, a move that has been welcomed by Pakistan. This initiative will certainly be accompanied by several attractive privileges and benefits for Pakistani industrialists.
I wonder whether Pakistani politicians are too naïve or reckless to understand the long-term effect of this decision. Pakistani investors have already been shifting their investments out of Pakistan owing to the ever-increasing cost of doing business in Pakistan, terrorism, kidnappings for ransom, electricity shortages, increase in the crime rate and a never-ending list of snags obstructing business and economic activities. A large number of textile units have shifted to Bangladesh, and Pakistanis top the list of investors in the UAE after Iranians.
However, allowing Pakistani businessmen to invest in India is calling for a disaster. India will certainly be offering lucrative incentives to Pakistani investors to establish industries there.
Many industrial units in Pakistan will wind up and shift to India, leaving thousands of workers jobless. It will further boost terrorism, extremism and the crime rate. Export-related production by Pakistanis in India will boost Indian trade, whereas Pakistan’s trade deficit will increase . Thus, severe harm will be inflicted on an already limping Pakistani economy.
HUMNA KHAN Karachi
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Comments (23) Closed
May 18, 2013 10:39pm
Can anyone seriously expect foreigners to set up industries in a country that has load-shedding runnng up to 16 hours a day?
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May 18, 2013 07:41am
dear its not a matter of hate its all about the effect on local economy and employment.
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May 18, 2013 01:49am
It is a very narrow minded assessment. In India, Pakistani businessmen will be paying proper taxes, which they hardly do in Pakistan, so return on investment is not that simple. It will put Pakistan's government's back against the wall to bring in the necessary changes to reform the system to make investment just as attractive as that in India. People with no experience in business do not understand the fact that it is competition that makes business lean, innovative, creative, efficient, competitive and prosperous. Business and society in return compel the government to do what needs to be done to facilitate business.
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May 18, 2013 09:58am
"allowing Pakistani businessmen to invest in India is calling for a disaster"
And allowing them to invest in UAE, Bangladesh, China is not? From your piece, I didn't find a single reason why investing in India would be qualitatively different.
Obviously, my friend, the real reasons for your negativity at the back of your mind have not been mentioned...:-)
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May 18, 2013 09:18am
A leading Pakistani businessman,during a visit to Chennai, observed that for the boost to the economy in Pakistan, one way would be to open up the visa regime for visitors from India, which would immediately give a fillip to the hotels ( currently going largely empty as tourists from the West are wary about traveling to Pakistan ) and to the retail trade, Indians being big shoppers by nature. Indians would come in droves, because of cultural links. Investments would follow.
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May 18, 2013 04:44am
there are many people/institution in pakistan whose daily living is based on hostility with India. I am sure they would not like to see he india pak relation improving. that includes section of Pak army/ISI and people like Let chief hafiz saeed who is born to be India's enemy. They cannot sit idle and see Pak India relationship improving.
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May 18, 2013 03:55am
Hmm I wonder if there are investors who left India to pakistan in 1947 and coming back to India, Welcome back friends
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May 18, 2013 02:45am
Shouldnt it be reciprocated ?
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May 17, 2013 10:45pm
Pakistan is a fictitious country. In order to resolve its perennial existential crisis it will have to bite the bullet of its miscreation.
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May 17, 2013 11:57am
Trade is never a bad thing, setting up shop in India does not necessarily mean closing shop in Pakistan. Infact it may even benefit the Pakistan outfit with added revenues from India for disposal and reinvestment.
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May 17, 2013 12:58pm
The answer to the problem would be to improve business conditions making it safe for ALL investors to do business in Pakistan.
Indians included!
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May 17, 2013 12:32pm
It is too early for India to make such an offer. A small bomb, here or there (metaphorically speaking) can send us back to square one!
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May 17, 2013 08:15pm
I am already witnessing business bringing wind of change in the sub continent.
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May 17, 2013 08:18pm
"Side effect will be less stress on wars."
How so?
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May 17, 2013 05:47am
You said a large number of textile units have shifted to Bangladesh, and Pakistanis top the list of investors in the UAE after Iranians. However, when it comes to moving to India you have expressed sensitivity to the issue. Why discriminate? My friend this world is a global village now. Just learn to live equitably with everyone and leave the hatred aside.
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May 17, 2013 05:05pm
It is time to wake up to economic realities, investors will go to the moon if they can make a buck why not India. Pakistan needs to get it's act together about law and order, power training the next generation of workers who have to be educated and savvy. India offers all that and more, their desire to become a first class nation. Sure Pakistanis also want that, it is a big step, the elections towards that. Now let Nawaz Sharif do his bidding be patient and be ready for sacrifices. Great nations are made with sweat and blood not by playing a blame game. The time has arrived.
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May 17, 2013 01:47pm
Well Humna Khan this is what globalization is all about. The motto is simple; " Perform or perish".
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May 17, 2013 11:36am
in a global world u cannot restrict trade and investment, the money belong to the investor and he has the right to invet wher he sees fit, not the pakistni govt
if the investor looses all his money will te pakistnni govt pay for all the loss? certaintly not, so it has no right
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May 17, 2013 02:50pm
You can expect Indians also to invest in Pakistan.
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May 17, 2013 10:00am
It is better than shifting to Dubai or Bangladesh or China as the cost of transportation will be less. Side effect will be less stress on wars.
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May 17, 2013 12:19pm
2-nation theory..........in reverse
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May 17, 2013 07:26pm
When someone makes an investment in another country, he/she gets return on that investment. Lot of countries are investing in India now to take advantage of India's growing economy. In fact, it's nice to know that India now trusts Pakistan enough to let you get a share of India's growth. In simple words, when a Pakistani guy makes profit on his factory in India, he can simply send all that money back to Pakistan. What's wrong with this?
But I should mention that in case of rising tensions, India can be forced to confiscate all Pakistani owned property in India, as had been done in the past.
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May 17, 2013 06:30pm
So if every one is so afraid.... Why don't to fix the electric, & Terror problem. So people would not leave the country for better grounds. In USA Corporate Gurus have tripled there revenues by outsourcing leaving behind millions of jobless Americans. With No plan by the govt. These Americans are still pondering on what happened. As America is now "Made in China" Pakistan would be "Made in India"
Good luck guys.
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