KARACHI, July 22: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has decided to postpone a visit to India.

FPCCI President Chaudhry Mohammad Saeed was scheduled to lead a 100-member delegation to India through Wagah border from July 31 to August 5.

Under the agenda of the visit, there were three main events -– a meeting of the Pakistan India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, economic forum in Chundigarh and sightseeing in Simla and then proceeding to New

Delhi.

“The FPCCI has decided to postpone the visit in view of the current political situation after the Mumbai catastrophe,” former FPCCI president Tariq Saeed told Dawn on Saturday.

He said the delegation, representing almost all the main sectors from export-oriented industries to leading local producers, had to interact with Indian counterparts on broader perspective. “Even some leading businessmen had to present a paper on their respective sectors during various meetings and economic forum. Besides, some industrialists were scheduled to present a paper on the bottlenecks hampering the utilisation of business and trade potentials between the two neighbours,” he added.

Mr Tariq, who was also part of the delegation, said: “I think under the present circumstances it is not feasible to visit India, as the hosts might be reluctant in showing good gesture of hospitality and have some reservations in their minds,” he added.

“I think confidence-building between businessmen of the two countries will take at least five to six months depending on the political situation,” he said. Mr Tariq had no idea when asked about any upcoming visit of the Indian delegation next month or in future.

“Trade links between the two countries and even with other countries are a continuous process and it should not be hanged up owing to various reasons. There should be no hesitation among the business community of the countries,” the former FPCCI president said.

“Prior to the Mumbai blasts, everything was going swiftly between the two countries, such as exchange of political and trade delegations, business interaction and composite dialogues on the political fronts. Now India is backing off despite the fact that there is no involvement of Pakistan in the blasts,” he remarked.

Both political and business relations are interrelated. “Dialogues between the two countries should continue to pave way for smooth trade,” he pointed out.

Mr Tariq ruled out that opening of liberal trade between the two countries will only benefit India. “There is still a win-win situation. In order to eradicate poverty and joblessness, there is a need that the two countries should live in harmony as it will benefit both.”

He said European Union member states and other regional countries all over the world had been reaping benefits from good political and economic relations. “Only Pakistan and India have frail political relations and they are impacting on enormous potentials of trade between the two countries,” Mr Tariq added.