LAHORE, Aug 19: A high-level 18-member delegation of parliamentarians and traders will leave for India on a four-day visit via Wagah Border on Aug 22 to promote peace and expedite the flow of trade among Saarc member countries.

Iftikhar Ali Malik, Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Pakistan chapter vice president, is representing the private sector. He said the delegation was visiting India at the invitation of Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Vikramjit Singh Sahney.

He said no policy could be successful if the stakeholders were not taken into confidence and without removing trade barriers.

He said the Pakistan delegation, apart from having a series of meetings with their counterparts, would also participate in the fourth round of India-Pakistan parliamentarians’ dialogue.

He stressed that it was the need of the hour that the Saarc members address their mutual disputes for exploiting economic potential of the region mired in poverty.

He said visa relaxation, frequent exchange of delegations in agriculture, health, education, engineering and other allied sectors, besides transfer of technology and expertise could help improve socioeconomic conditions of people.

He said efforts would also be made to remove fears and apprehensions of Indian traders with the sole objective of rapid industrialisation in both the countries without damaging their respective industries.

Mr Malik said the scope of joint ventures with Indian investors would also be explored, besides turning time-consuming irregular trade into regular trade between both countries, which would save billions of dollars.

He said the Indian government, the Saarc CCI and the World Punjab Organisation had arranged grand receptions at New Delhi and Patna for the delegation.

He said Saarc could be turned into a vibrant forum for the benefit and socioeconomic prosperity of the region.

“The bilateral disputes of the Saarc countries, particularly those between India and Pakistan, have been hindering the success of the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA). However, the recent developments between the two countries were encouraging,” he said.

The delegation includes Senator Jehangir Badr, Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Ali Baloch, Mrs Saeeda Iqbal, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi, Mian Abdus Sattar, Nadeem Afzal Gondal, Nafisa Shah, Shazia Marri, Remesh Lal, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Mir Amer Ali Khan Magsi, Anusha Rehman Khan and Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan.—APP