India issues more visas to Pakistanis than vice versa

[EjazR]

Construction work starts on customs

KARACHI: The construction work on integrated customs check-posts (ICCP) at Wagah border has been initiated and is likely to be completed before the end of 2011, a top Indian official said on Wednesday.

Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal, who came to Karachi to attend a ceremony hosted by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), said that the integrated customs check-posts to be fully computerised and equipped with most modern facilities would help trade between the two countries flourish, a statement said.

There was a trade potential of up to $10 billion between the two neighbouring countries and it could easily be materialised through official channels, said Sabharwal.

“Trade is the only way to eliminate poverty from the region and elevate the living of at least 350 million people living in absolute poverty in the South Asian region,” the Indian envoy said, adding that if India can grow its trade with China to $55 billion in just a brief period then why not with Pakistan.

He agreed to the suggestion of opening Tharparkar-Munabao road link to enhance trade.

Regarding visa problems, he said that he realised the problems being faced by the business community of Pakistan, adding that there is no discrimination between the restrictions and regulations for any country of the world. He said that all the trading partners are being treated equally.

Indian High Commission Islamabad issued 95,000 visas before Mumbai incident. He, however, expressed hope that the same number of visas would be issued this year, as well.

He said that India is issuing more visas than Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

Regarding the opening of Indian Consulate in Karachi, he said that the government had accepted this demand and had renovated its consulate building a few years back, but it is still awaiting Pakistan government’s approval.

The Indian envoy appreciated the idea of creating SAARC Shipping Line owned by SAARC countries and said that this proposal would be passed on to the quarters concerned.

In his address of welcome, Muhammad Mansha Chhurra, Acting President, FPCCI, expressed dismay over the low volume of trade between the SAARC countries, especially between India and Pakistan.

 

[sohan]

Just on this forum, you can see many Non Residential Pakistanis who've been to India but not one Indian who has been to India.

 

[IceCold]

Just on this forum, you can see many Non Residential Pakistanis who've been to India but not one Indian who has been to India.

Just because you haven't met any Indian on a forum who have visited Pakistan does not mean Indians do not come to Pakistan at all. In fact if you haven't noticed Sikh community regularly visits Pakistan.

 

[IceCold]

Construction work starts on customs

KARACHI: The construction work on integrated customs check-posts (ICCP) at Wagah border has been initiated and is likely to be completed before the end of 2011, a top Indian official said on Wednesday.

Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal, who came to Karachi to attend a ceremony hosted by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), said that the integrated customs check-posts to be fully computerised and equipped with most modern facilities would help trade between the two countries flourish, a statement said.

There was a trade potential of up to $10 billion between the two neighbouring countries and it could easily be materialised through official channels, said Sabharwal.

“Trade is the only way to eliminate poverty from the region and elevate the living of at least 350 million people living in absolute poverty in the South Asian region,” the Indian envoy said, adding that if India can grow its trade with China to $55 billion in just a brief period then why not with Pakistan.

He agreed to the suggestion of opening Tharparkar-Munabao road link to enhance trade.

Regarding visa problems, he said that he realised the problems being faced by the business community of Pakistan, adding that there is no discrimination between the restrictions and regulations for any country of the world. He said that all the trading partners are being treated equally.

Indian High Commission Islamabad issued 95,000 visas before Mumbai incident. He, however, expressed hope that the same number of visas would be issued this year, as well.

He said that India is issuing more visas than Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

Regarding the opening of Indian Consulate in Karachi, he said that the government had accepted this demand and had renovated its consulate building a few years back, but it is still awaiting Pakistan government’s approval.

The Indian envoy appreciated the idea of creating SAARC Shipping Line owned by SAARC countries and said that this proposal would be passed on to the quarters concerned.

In his address of welcome, Muhammad Mansha Chhurra, Acting President, FPCCI, expressed dismay over the low volume of trade between the SAARC countries, especially between India and Pakistan.

Ejaz just a thought, its not necessarily good to change the topic of the article and highlight something which is a non exiting issue. The real topic was "construction work starts on customs" and even if you choose not to take that as a title, there was another thing of rather more interest should have been taken as the title for the thread that India and Pakistan can reach a trade volume of $10 billion. I am amazed why you choose not to choose that part as the heading for your thread.

Hope you catch the drift here.

Thanks

 

[IceCold]

Pak-India trade likely to rise to USD 10 bln​

KARACHI, May 06 (APP) : The construction work on Integrated Customs Check Posts (ICCP) at Wagha Border has been started by the Indian authorities and is expected to be completed by the end of the next year.This was stated by Indian High Commissioner, Sharat Sabharwal during his visit to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry , said FPCCI statement issued here on Thursday.The Indian envoy, who specially flown to Karachi to attend a luncheon meeting hosted by FPCCI in his honour, said that the ICCP will be fully computerized and equipped with most modern facilities. This will help trade between India and Pakistan flourish and the traders from both the countries would be able to ship their consignments speedily.

Sabharwal said there is a trade potential of US dollars 10 billion between the two neighboring countries and it can easily be materialized if done through official channels.
Trade and greater economic integration can make an effective contribution to eliminating the poverty from the region and elevate the living standard of at least 350 million people in absolute poverty in the South Asian region, said the Indian Envoy adding that if India can grow its trade with China to dollars 55 billion in just a brief period why not with Pakistan.
He informed that the Indian side had also suggested to open up the land route of trade between the two countries via Khokhrapar-Munabao route as well.
He informed that Indian High Commission in Islamabad had issued 95,000 visas before Mumbai incident but this number of visas declined later. He, however, hoped that same number of visas would be issued this year as well.
Regarding opening up Indian Consulate in Karachi, he said that Indian government had accepted this demand and had renovated its consulate building few years back but it required Pakistan Government’s approval.
He noted the idea of creating SAARC Shipping Line owned by SAARC countries and said that this proposal will be passed on to the concerned quarters.
Regarding issuance of five-year multiple visas to 500 businessmen of SAARC Chamber, he said that he will refer this proposal to SAARC secretariat.
Earlier, President, Pakistan-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, S.M. Muneer said the two neighboring countries should not mix trade with politics and business community should be allowed to carry on trade without hurdles.
He especially mentioned to the Indian envoy about the NTBs (non-tariff barriers) being imposed by the Indian government to block smooth flow of Pakistan’s export into India and demanded their lifting.
He proposed that for better trade relations, both the countries should have proper trade relations and in this regard bank branches should be opened in each other’s domain.
Former president FPCCI and SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tariq Sayeed said Pakistan is ready to boost bilateral trade with India without considering the balance of trade. There should be trade free of hurdles which will be in favour of both the nations.
He mentioned the regional trade organizations such as ASEAN, EU, etc. as successful models of regional trade and stressed the need to strengthen SAARC in those patterns. If we will have strong trade relations the political relations will get better automatically, Tariq suggested.
He emphasized on promoting border trade particularly through land routes which is in favour of both the countries.
Acting President FPCCI Muhammad Mansha Chhurra regretted that trade volume between the SAARC countries especially India and Pakistan is very low. India and Pakistan should promote regional trade on the pattern of ASEAN, EU, NAFTA, etc. to boost bilateral trade. Promotion of trade is the only to minimize the political tension in the region.
He suggested the Indian High Commission to issue visas to the business community without delay and without the restriction of movement to some particular cities. He said that FPCCI is playing its due role to strengthen the economic ties between the two neighboring countries.
Former president, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Amjad Rafi , former president FPCCI Haroon Rashid and Capt (Retd) Haleem Siddiqui also spoke.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Pak-India trade likely to rise to USD 10 bln

Ejaz same article but with a more appropriate thread.

 

[EjazR]

@Icecold

I guess its a matter of personal perception. The $10B trade figure has been quoted many times and there is potential of much more. Historically, Punjab and Sindh have had a very integrated economy with present day India and this would be a natural progression to this. Prior to Independence, most of the raw materials were in the newly formed Pakistan while Industries were in India. The new countries had to source new Industrial infrastructure and sources of raw materials respectively due to the circumstances then.

What I found interesting that the GoI for probably the first time has realized the importance of treating the Pakistani people separate from GoP policies and "non-state actors". Although ties were strained after mumbai attacks, diplomatic ties were not broken, neither was issuing visas stopped and infact, India continued to issue more visas than vice versa. This was more interesting for me personally. It might be separate case for you.

 

[FlickerSingh]

pity that 2 countries who can benefit from mutual trade choose not to do so. the entire region can benefit from an agreement of trade preferential treaties being signed between saarc members

 

[graphican]

In May 2010, the moment we are talking, it surely makes sense. Pakistan is not receiving international visitors as much as it was getting in 2003-2004 as since then security and economic situations have been on the decline.