Lostsoldier
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2013
- Messages
- 556
- Reaction score
- -2
- Country
- Location
Asserting that Pakistan will continue to promote trade with India despite tensions along the border, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan has said that import of electricity from India will greatly help overcome the country's current power crisis.
Addressing a consultative trade meeting on Friday, the minister said that the 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," Dawn quoted the commerce minister as saying.
He said that Pakistan will have to import of electricity from India to overcome the energy crisis.
He, however, added that the country's current tension with India is casting a shadow on economic ties.
Pakistan has been trying to finalise projects with Iran as well but due to the international pressure, the government is facing difficulties in payments, he said at the meeting themed "Trade with Neighbours: Prospects and Challenges", organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
The country is already purchasing electricity for Gwadar Port from Iran, he added.
Pakistan, which is developing the Gwadar Port with help from China, has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Beijing.
"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.
The minister also revealed his government's plans to develop land ports at Wagha, Torkham and Chaman as gateways to regional trade.
"Pakistan should trade with India for better standard of living of its own people," Minister for Privatisation Mohammad Zubair, who also spoke at the meeting, 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 daily quoted the minister as saying.
He 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 that IBM Pakistan had 400 people while India had 75,000. Foreigners love to invest in India, the minister said.
Addressing a consultative trade meeting on Friday, the minister said that the 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," Dawn quoted the commerce minister as saying.
He said that Pakistan will have to import of electricity from India to overcome the energy crisis.
He, however, added that the country's current tension with India is casting a shadow on economic ties.
Pakistan has been trying to finalise projects with Iran as well but due to the international pressure, the government is facing difficulties in payments, he said at the meeting themed "Trade with Neighbours: Prospects and Challenges", organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
The country is already purchasing electricity for Gwadar Port from Iran, he added.
Pakistan, which is developing the Gwadar Port with help from China, has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Beijing.
"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.
The minister also revealed his government's plans to develop land ports at Wagha, Torkham and Chaman as gateways to regional trade.
"Pakistan should trade with India for better standard of living of its own people," Minister for Privatisation Mohammad Zubair, who also spoke at the meeting, 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 daily quoted the minister as saying.
He 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 that IBM Pakistan had 400 people while India had 75,000. Foreigners love to invest in India, the minister said.
