KARACHI, June 10: Civil society representatives of Pakistan and India on Saturday reaffirmed their resolve to building bridges of understanding and cooperation between the two peoples and called for strengthening linkages between industry and business community, media and other areas and transforming South Asia into the second largest economy after China. The views were expressed in the inaugural session of the Karachi-Mumbai exchange programme, organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) to welcome the visiting Indian delegation. The Indian delegation comprising businessmen and representatives of media and showbiz arrived here in the morning.

At the inaugural session, which was presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, speakers referred to great potential for economic cooperation between Sindh and Maharashtra via Mumbai and Karachi and stressed the need for moving ahead despite some hiccups in addressing and resolving the core issues, because there was no alternative to peace and amity.

The chief minister said both Karachi and Mumbai could serve as a strong bridge between the two countries. He expressed the hope that a ferry service, like the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus link and the service via Wagah, would strengthen the relations. He said the ferry service was the need of the hour.

He also stressed the need for resolving the core issue of Kashmir and asked India to respond positively to the proposals made by President Pervez Musharraf in this regard.

Dr Rahim said the opening of the train links with India via Monabao was a significant move forward for promoting people-to-people contact.