After MFN status, now Indian traders seek transit route

[IndoCarib]

ATTARI: Calling it a major breakthrough, the traders have welcomed Pakistan's decision to provide MFN status to India and hoped it would result in a multifold increase in business between both countries.

Following the decision of Pakistan cabinet, there is an euphoria among importers and exporters of both nations, however Indian businessmen now seek transit route from Pakistan for making their reach to central Asian countries.

Stating that the Pak's decision would open a new era of industrial growth, chairman of Confederation of Indian Industries, Amritsar zone, and director Khannap Papers, Suneet Kochhar said: "After the decision, Pakistan would lose the import restrict from India. At present, Islamabad allows import of only 1,946 items from New Delhi, whereas India does not allow trade of 850 items with Pakistan."

"Now Pakistan must act on giving transit route to India for catering to central Asia," said Suneet, while laying thrust on visa reforms for businessmen.

"Visa policies between two countries should be made lenient and both sides should also remove non-tariff barriers and all other restrictive practices," suggested Kochhar.

Mohmmad Manak, managing director of Lal Shahbaz Traders, Pakistan told TOI over phone that boost in trade would also bring in hope for permanent peace in the region.

"Trade is a key to peace as increased trade will help bring prosperity and more job opportunities," he said.

At present India imports gypsum, rock salt, hydrogen peroxide , soda ash, cement, mulathi (crude drug) dry dates etc from Pakistan, while India exports soybean extract , vegetables , cotton etc said deputy commissioner, customs Attari, RK Duggal. Pakistan has also given transit route to Afghanistan that exports fresh and dry fruits to India. He said with the commissioning of ICP they would be able to handle more than 300 trucks as against an average of about 150 trucks in a day.

While hailing Pak's gesture of giving MFN status to India, the Federation of Karyana and Dry Fruit Commercial Association Anil Mehra said: "This is a long awaited step which will not only encourage trade but also social ties between two nations."

State convener of Pak India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy AS Mahal opined that "This is most encouraging step taken by Pakistan in recent times to further people-to-people contact and prosperity of the region."

He said future could witness more such friendly gestures both from India and Pakistan.


After MFN status, now Indian traders seek transit route - The Times of India

 

[SMC]

Military should intervene in this nonsense. Bharat supports terrorist groups like TTP and BLA and we give them MFN status, etc?

 

[somebozo]

Provided India should give fair chance to Pakistani goods and not put artifical barriers around it.

 

[Mech]

Provided India should give fair chance to Pakistani goods and not put artifical barriers around it.

Its not that.....besides pickles and stuff like that, i dont think pakistani products are even at par with the indian ones. We would be doing you a favour by "pretending" to restrict you...so you guys can retain some "pride".

Btw, i'm loving the new development.....transit routes please !

 

[Roybot]

Military should intervene in this nonsense. Bharat supports terrorist groups like TTP and BLA and we give them MFN status, etc?

India gave Pakistan MFN status way back in 1996

 

[venu309]

It is sad that some members still want war & hatred to continue...Come on, wouldnt our region become one of the best places in the world if peace & prosperity is attained? Just look how many people are being killed in the WOT (which most Pakistani members claim it is not theirs). Suppose this region becomes peaceful & financially sound, do you think any super power will be able to send their army & kill people at their will? In fact if you become financially sound, you would wield a lot of clout with most countries in the world & they wouldn't sanction action against your country even if a super power wishes to do so.

 

[IndoCarib]

India gave Pakistan MFN status way back in 1996

You expect him to know that ? He probably doesnt even know what is MFN

 

[jbond197]

Provided India should give fair chance to Pakistani goods and not put artifical barriers around it.

I think that's a reasonable demand. If India is getting MFN then I think India should try to promote Pakistani products in India as well. With construction in large scale going on in India, Pakistani cement companies can make good fortunes if trust in trade in established on both sides. Other sectors can benefit as well.

 

[lepziboy]

Military should intervene in this nonsense. Bharat supports terrorist groups like TTP and BLA and we give them MFN status, etc?

your government doesnt even have power anymore.And because of the military you can see whats happening its always bad for the military to rule a country

 

[newdelhinsa]

Non of you can see peace deal on Kashmir at work and all the hostility from both sides Zeroing.

India wouldn't mind present status co for many decades to come or war at appropriate time to recapture ***. I know many will itch on my last line but that is the reality and one shouldn't have any doubt about on such straight talk. Any deal on Kashmir and India not given transit to CAR for its energy requirement is just a futile exercise for us otherwise.

If Pakistan foresee value in being a transit country which is actually a real good source to prosperity, given CAR and Russia will dug more oil wells in coming times, not CAR nations will come down to access Middle east oil, but is going to cater only China then the gains are going to be limited. India do not need Pakistan transit to access middle east oil and Gas since it can maintain adequate saturation via sea rout and has been doing it since ages but it would definitely need access to CAR and Afghanistan for energy needs and mining.

Pakistan has to start acting like a farewell state who can earn money from anyone. The hatred will become irrelevant and thing of past.

Any alleged Indian involvement in Balochistan et al is mere a switch on and off like supporting Khalistan, infiltration is/was for Pakistan.

India wouldn't mind your politicians ranting for Kashmiri muslims, doing lip service only (not sabotage) with straight faces and they are quite expert in it. We will take care our Kashmiri people; leading them to prosperity as we are now.

I hope you guys now have got the blue print of peace between India and Pakistan.

 

[Pak_Sher]

If India allows Pakistan transit routes to sell Pakistani products to Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Bangladesh, then Pakistan should also allow India route access. It should be both ways.

---------- Post added at 07:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 AM ----------

Non of you can see peace deal on Kashmir at work and all the hostility from both sides Zeroing.

India wouldn't mind present status co for many decades to come or war at appropriate time to recapture ***. I know many will itch on my last line but that is the reality and one shouldn't have any doubt about on such straight talk. Any deal on Kashmir and India not given transit to CAR for its energy requirement is just a futile exercise for us otherwise.

If Pakistan foresee value in being a transit country which is actually a real good source to prosperity, given CAR and Russia will dug more oil wells in coming times, not CAR nations will come down to access Middle east oil, but is going to cater only China then the gains are going to be limited. India do not need Pakistan transit to access middle east oil and Gas since it can maintain adequate saturation via sea rout and has been doing it since ages but it would definitely need access to CAR and Afghanistan for energy needs and mining.

Pakistan has to start acting like a farewell state who can earn money from anyone. The hatred will become irrelevant and thing of past.

Any alleged Indian involvement in Balochistan et al is mere a switch on and off like supporting Khalistan, infiltration is/was for Pakistan.

India wouldn't mind your politicians ranting for Kashmiri muslims, doing lip service only (not sabotage) with straight faces and they are quite expert in it. We will take care our Kashmiri people; leading them to prosperity as we are now.

I hope you guys now have got the blue print of peace between India and Pakistan.

As long as there are sarcastic posisonous Indians like yourself, they will be no peace. Yes, I did see the blue print, but ran out of toilet paper this evening and ended up using it and flushing it down the toilet. Sorry.

---------- Post added at 07:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 AM ----------

your government doesnt even have power anymore.And because of the military you can see whats happening its always bad for the military to rule a country

With 500+ million people below the poverty line in India, I do see lots of benefits of corrupt civilian rules in India.

 

[Kaniska]

@Pak_Sher: Igonre comments from the trolls from both Indian and Pak side....otherwise there is no meaningful discussion.
Here is the fact...by providing MFN status to India it is a good symbolic intention that has been displayed by Pakistan..Its really a good move...Initially traders from both sides will complain but in due course time, they will survive and become more competetive...Yes regarding the transit route....India should provide transit route to Pakistan and Afganistan and simillarly paksitan should also allow transit throug hpakistan to central asia....by which both countries will again enormous amount of revenue.

 

[Spitfighter]

If India allows Pakistan transit routes to sell Pakistani products to Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Bangladesh, then Pakistan should also allow India route access. It should be both ways.
With 500+ million people below the poverty line in India, I do see lots of benefits of corrupt civilian rules in India.

If there's one thing South Asians have been doing, it's bickering. Ignore trolls dude. We've all had the same conversations a million times over there's no need to perpetuate it.

As far as the MFN status goes, it's just an eyewash. Neither side is in a position to make any sort of compromises. India cannot/will not budge on Kashmir anytime soon just as Pakistan can't dissolve its proxies. We're one terrorist attack away from square one. The way I see it, the status quo will continue until and unless a superpower (NATO/China) intervenes on the other's behalf.

 

[Kaniska]

I agree...Spitfighter

 

[Birbal]

Simple solution to the Kashmir issue. Hold a referendum. Unfortunately, India doesn't want this because it wants Kashmir to be a part of India, and Pakistan doesn't want this because it wants Kashmir to be a part of Pakistan. (It was a while back, but most polled Kashmiris wanted independence from India without becoming part of Pakistan.)

Of course, if India wizened up and allowed this, and Pakistan and India both gave Kashmir MFN status, we could all then work together (along with Bangladesh preferably) to move forward through economic and technological cooperation. Imagine if we had a South Asian Union, sort of like the EU. To quote that character from Krrish, "Just imagine".