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KARACHI:Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industrys high-level business delegation headed by Junaid Esmail Makda, Vice President, during visit to India, met Arvind Mehta, Joint Secretary Commerce, Government of India at New Delhi and exchanged views on liberalization of visa and enhancement of bilateral trade prospects.
Junaid Makda informed that it was on the agenda of KCCI delegation to have detailed discussion at Indian Commerce Ministry on possible cooperation of Indo-Pak private sectors to enhance trade.
He said that in the KCCI proposals submitted by him to Zafar Mahmood, Commerce Secretary, a detailed annexure on trade with India was furnished. He added that he was heading the KCCI delegation to India for advocacy to promote and strengthen bilateral trade ties and sign the agreement of cooperation with Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry to establish Bombay-Karachi Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry as desired by the two governments through respective commerce ministries.
He stated that the cooperation between KCCI and Bombay Chamber will open the avenues of new facilitation as both chambers will issue the visa recommendation letters, exchange trade information and delegation on regular basis.
Makda expressed his concern over prolonged timeline for issuance of Indian visas. The Indian High Commission was taking time for over 3-months to process the visa requests. He said that around 400 applications for visa recommendations were lying at his desk, which were not forwarded as the recommendations submitted earlier were still pending at the Indian High Commission.
He highlighted that KCCI also issues Visa Recommendation Letters to the Indian businessmen who wanted to visit Pakistan on the request of their Pakistani buyers who are the members of KCCI and Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issues business visas within a week. Commenting on the suggestion to identify businesspersons for multiple visas by Joint Secretary Commerce, he suggested not to restrict the quantity rather it should be open for all genuine businesspersons maintaining trade on reciprocity basis.
To improve bilateral trade, he suggested to ease and remove Non-Tariff barriers from Indian side so that current huge trade imbalance could be narrowed down paving the way for Pakistani exports. He also voiced to review the sensitive list under SAFTA which has a blocking effect on Pakistani goods to enter into Indian markets. Informal trade of US$ 2 3 Billion (via Dubai) be converted to formal trade. Import of BT Cotton and Textile Machinery be allowed. All positive list items trade be allowed through land route which is cost effective, besides Wagah-Attari Border, the Monabao-Khokrapar border adjoining the province of Sindh should be opened for two-way trade, he suggested.
He also highlighted the possibilities of Investment Opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh province.
Joint Secretary Commerce, Arvind Mehta, agreed to ease and simplify the visa process and stated that he will put pressure on his ministry and ministry of Home Affairs in this regard. He focused that there were two major problems, one visa issue and other the negative and positive list which should be eventually addressed. SAFTA has been ratified by all members, however, even after ratification, the Pakistan side has not implemented the decisions. He asked the Vice President KCCI to approach Ministry of Commerce for implementation of the decisions which was deficiency at their end. If any Non-Tariff Barriers are on Indian side should also be highlighted.
He said he acknowledged the visa problem and trying to solve it. He suggested the Vice President KCCI to identify prominent businesspersons for multiple-entry visas who are vibrantly engaged in the businesses on whom KCCI had firm confidence and forward this list to Joint Secretary Commerce through Minister (Trade) Pakistan High Commission with his recommendation and he will submit the same to Ministry of Home Affairs to accord multiple visas exempted from Police reporting. This will also help Ministry of Commerce to identify the companies who are coming through the recommendations of official chambers.
JS Commerce sought proposals accordingly and stated that a reciprocal list will also be prepared from Indian side. He said that this may follow supplementary lists of businesspersons.
Naeem Anwar, Minister (Trade), High Commission of Pakistan in India, Dr. Nisha Taneja, Indian Economist, KCCI delegates Yasin Saya, Asif Bega and Khadim Rasool also participated in the meeting.
