Important message

[VCheng]

There is no comparison between India and Pakistan... in any way. Again, not saying that we shouldn't optimize trade levels. Do you have any solutions sir? realistic ones? no doubt these are turbulent times but there's got to be a 'to do list'. With years of diverse exposure it should'nt be a problem for you. Enumerate action items here.

1. Get the power production levels up and ensure gas supply to industry.

2. Promote known strong points like the textile industry to export to China, helped by requesting China to favor our output.

3. Ask for transfer of technology wherever possible (#1 will help here too.)

4. Improve transit through the KKH as a route for bilateral exports.

and so on.

Common themes in the above are power, infrastructure, and political initiatives.

I hope that is enumerated to your satisfaction.

 

[Vassnti]

To add a little perspective NZ's trade with China is also around $10 billion we are 10,000 ks away and the countries population is one quater that of Karachi.

 

[muse]

Pakistani readers should be asking themselves what is that India sell to China ?

 

[venu309]

If Pakistan emerges as an economically strong country, all its problems would be automatically solved. No other country would be able to dictate their terms with her, whether Super Power or no. But for doing that Pakistan will have to first remove the Islamic glasses & then look at the world with a business angle. Look at the whole wide world as your business partner or client and not just the Islamic countries and you will have more options & more economic growth. Your policies should be governed by trade & economy and not religion. Of'course this just my opinion & I apologise if I have ruffled any feathers by saying so.

 

[Roybot]

Pakistani readers should be asking themselves what is that India sell to China ?

Its mainly raw materials.

 

[muse]

Its mainly raw materials.

You mean unprocessed or semi processed ? If yes, what kinds of things - are you familiar with where there may be a list available, if yes, then post it - it should give Pakistani readers something to think about

 

[regular]

+
after 2020,india may become the china's largest trading partner crossing usa

Okay! that is great, good to hear that, at least we will get rid of the Yankees within the equation...I hope we will have some share in that too....

 

[Guest01]

The fundamental problem, is that the current Zardari government (and other politicians) are either afraid or unwilling to carry out vital economic reforms.

Pakistan is the 6th largest country in the world by population, with a highly educated middle class.

Pakistan has enormous economic potential, but the current politicians are unwilling to develop it. Mostly for political reasons, for example on tax reform.

Why blame it only on Pakistan? or then on Zaradari? It is clear that whenever trade becomes a one way traffic the incentive of imports will decrease. If really the case is that China wants better and increasing trade with Pakistan then it can also increase the imports from Pakistan which will make the Balance of Trade more harmonious. Why treat Pakistan as a market for exports and thus reduce their internal economic strength incrementally?

Surely the way to increase trade is also to allow Pakistani exports in to China. Specially the textiles. Is that not?

But then I can understand that why should China look for Pakistan's interest?

 

[regular]

To add a little perspective NZ's trade with China is also around $10 billion we are 10,000 ks away and the countries population is one quater that of Karachi.

Oh realli interesting. So what NZ is selling to China infact???.....

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Why blame it only on Pakistan? or then on Zaradari? It is clear that whenever trade becomes a one way traffic the incentive of imports will decrease. If really the case is that China wants better and increasing trade with Pakistan then it can also increase the imports from Pakistan which will make the Balance of Trade more harmonious. Why treat Pakistan as a market for exports and thus reduce their internal economic strength incrementally?

Learn to read please. I have never once blamed Pakistan for anything.

The goal of all countries is to be economically competitive, and I do not believe that the Zardari government is doing that for Pakistan. Their balance of trade is in their hands, just like India's trade deficit is in their hands.

Personally though, I do think that Pakistan should get special status to export goods to China.

However, that does not solve the underlying economic issues, it will only act as a short-term crutch. In order to return Pakistan's economy to strong health, the leadership needs to implement economic reforms.

 

[Guest01]

You mean unprocessed or semi processed ? If yes, what kinds of things - are you familiar with where there may be a list available, if yes, then post it - it should give Pakistani readers something to think about

I really do not think that Pakistan should follow India's example in this case Sir. What India exports to China are primary goods with 0 ZERO value addition and then imports value added goods produced from the same raw material at several times the price and hence the balance of trade is naturally skewed. the impetus for every economy to add value with the manufacturing with it. That is the only way in which the inherent strength of the economy can be increased which will protect it from these external influences such as what happened in US or in Europe or to an extent what has been happening in Pakistan. By being content at exporting raw material and primary goods, India is helping dig its own grave.

It is really not lost on India and that is why it is asking China and other suppliers to set up manufacturing in India for the infrastructure products which are and will be increasingly over the coming years be in high demand. the local manufacturing will save foreign exchange, create local jobs, create techonolgical advances in the internal economy and most importantly create huge indirect employment via ancillary industries.

My suggestion for betterment, well stary making your own automobiles instead of just asssembly lines, start making your own locomotives, start making things of your own which are currently being imported. What I mean to say is that instead of looking at exporting raw materials, get the manufacturing investment within your own country and add value and then export those value added goods. That is the way to growth. But of course, for that, you will need a stable political climate and that primarly means that your Army needs to stop looking at Pakistan as the country that it has and think more like Pakistan has the army to defend it.

I really cannot see that happening in near future so that is sad. Just look at Cement. Do you know that the total production capacity of Cement in Pakistan can all be exported to India? This creates huge opportunity for investment in Cement in Pakistan and hence sell a value added product to India. But the caveat of course is that why should India allow simple import of Cement from Pakistan when it knows that Pakistan treats India as an enemy country. What is the reason for this, of course you know already then.

 

[Guest01]

Learn to read please. I have never once blamed Pakistan for anything.

The goal of all countries is to be economically competitive, and I do not believe that the Zardari government is doing that for Pakistan. Their balance of trade is in their hands, just like India's trade deficit is in their hands.

Personally though, I do think that Pakistan should get special status to export goods to China.

However, that does not solve the underlying economic issues, it will only act as a short-term crutch. In order to return Pakistan's economy to strong health, the leadership needs to implement economic reforms.

That is the problem with me my friend. I just cannot read but also read between the lines. Of course, I know that the Army dictator governments are clearly more growth focussed in Pakistan when looking from the Chinese perspectives but that is anyway a given. So no surprises that the PPP government of last years is anyway the scapegoat for the systematic exploitation of the Pakistan economy and its interest and selling them to the hightest bidder for its own interest by Pakistan Army.

Even in the current economic climate, why does China being a friend not actually set up locomotives factory in Pakistan via an investment and actually make the locomotives there instead of exporting them. The demand is huge anyway + when manufacturing in Pakistan, a lot can actually be imported in to China at least in the bordering provinces?

HOw about textiles? That is an already competitive product. Why is China intent on importing cotton rather than value added goods from Pakistan?

To implement the reforms, the Pakistani's need funding. They tried to get it from the himalyan taller friend China but were told to go back to IMF because China does not fund growth but only helps in exports of its products so they had to run back to IMF. If really China has a stake in development of Pakistan, what is stopping it to make investment in the fundamental sectors and not just in the telecom where it is anyway a cash cow situation? And please do not come back with the dams etc. because anyway it is Chinese workers that work there and Pakistan pays the money back several times even when the name plaque says that it was China's funding when rather the Pakistani's paid the principle already and will not pay the debt several times over.

 

[muse]

Guest01

Everyone needs to start from where they can --- and please to take CD's point with regard to the PPP government, this issue, like most any other, will move further when leadership is applied to the mix, the PPP government is not exactly "strong" in that department -because structural changes have to be made to the economy, and PPP government don't want to be seen as upsetting anybody's apple cart - this is sad, because they should be more focused on the creation of level playing field and creating more apple carts rather than protecting the monopoly business.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

If really China has a stake in development of Pakistan, what is stopping it to make investment in the fundamental sectors and not just in the telecom where it is anyway a cash cow situation? And please do not come back with the dams etc. because anyway it is Chinese workers that work there and Pakistan pays the money back several times even when the name plaque says that it was China's funding when rather the Pakistani's paid the principle already and will not pay the debt several times over.

Here you go:

Financial Times - China signs $35bn in deals with Pakistan

China's policy is not to give "aid", that is the forte of the paternalistic Western powers, who can afford it anyway, given that they are high-income nations.

China still has a low GDP per capita, we cannot afford to give out large amounts of "aid", nor do we believe in it. What we can do, is provide a large amount of investment, and that is exactly what we have done.

 

[Guest01]

Guest01

Everyone needs to start from where they can --- and please to take CD's point with regard to the PPP government, this issue, like most any other, will move further when leadership is applied to the mix, the PPP government is not exactly "strong" in that department -because structural changes have to be made to the economy, and PPP government don't want to be seen as upsetting anybody's apple cart - this is sad, because they should be more focused on the creation of level playing field and creating more apple carts rather than protecting the monopoly business.

That is the whole point Sir. That is why I say that do not blame the PPP toothless government. The determinal policies of Pakistan are only subservise to the Army. Let me try to put it this way. What should PPP do for a better investment climate = Peace and stability in the country. The biggest possible importer of Pakistani goods today is India so there needs to be peace with it. Just the transit revenue of Indian goods to Afhanistan + energy resources in to India will create development and prosperity centers in Pakistan but what is stopping it?

So it is ironic that when the economic policy is subsersive to the foreign policy, and when Army runs the foreign policy, yet you blame the PPP government!

Pakistan is sitting right next to 2 of the fastest growing economies in the world. It is friends with one who just wants to sell to Pakistan and the other which can buy, well that is the Army story. Is it not Sir? Yet blame the PPP government?