KARACHI, Nov 26: Pakistan’s two-way trade volume with India is being estimated to have exceeded $5 billion in a year in which share of exports from Pakistan is only $400 million. Top leaders of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) blame non-trade barriers by Indian authorities for restricting exports from Pakistan.

“Pakistan should not be made a dumping ground of Indian goods,’’ demanded S. M. Muneer, the recently-elected president of Indo-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry at a press conference. He revealed that the formal trade volume between two countries is $2 billion a year. “But the bulk trade is routed through Dubai, which amounts to $3 billion a year.”

Overland trade with India through trucks was resumed in October 2007 after which about 80 to 100 Indian trucks come with perishables virtually every day, Muneer said but no truck from Pakistan is going to India because of logistics. Indians have not provided enough space on their side for parking of trucks, he revealed.

Mr Muneer was in India with Pakistani business leaders, where he was elected president for a two-year term of the Indo Pakistan chamber. Tanveer Sheikh, the FPCCI president said that the Indo Pak chamber as well as the apex trade bodies of two countries is taking up the issue of non-trade barriers with Indian authorities.

Despite complaints about non-trade barriers in India, the Pakistani business leaders shared Indian businessmen view that the Pakistan government should trade with India on negative list rather than a positive list of items as is being done now. “Why am I not allowed to import machinery and equipment from India, which is cheaper than those being imported now from Europe and USA and on much less freight and within a timeframe that suits me,’’ Muneer said.

Muneer, Tanvir Sheikh and many other leaders in the press conference shared the view that bureaucracies of the two countries were responsible for creating hurdles in two-way trade and resumption of normal relationship between Pakistan and India.

Muneer wondered as to why containers are not allowed for overland transportation of cargo between two countries when there is a provision for railway bogies and trucks.

He demanded that the governments of both India and Pakistan should take necessary steps to develop infrastructure and logistics at international borders to promote two-way trade between them.

“Not only through Wagah but also at international border in Sindh, the cross border trade be promoted,’’ he replied when informed that all through in his statement he talked of overland trade between Pakistan and India through Wagah border only.

Mr Muneer will convene the meeting of the executive committee of the Indo Pakistan chamber in February next and plans to hold a meeting at least once in a month.

“All the countries of South Asia have a common history, common cultural heritage and family connections with their neighboring countries,’’ says a prepared document given to journalists in the press conference to point out that almost all the disputes between South Asian nations are not based on beliefs, faiths or religions, they are mere politico economic in their nature.

Businessmen of the two countries have identified potential areas of mutual cooperation and joint ventures, which relate to agricultural products, tyres, auto parts, minerals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, leather, textiles, telecommunications, gas pipeline, electricity generation using coal and wind energy in Sindh.

The businessmen urged the two countries to conclude a bilateral investment agreement to further broaden the scope of cooperation between India and Pakistan that should pave way to opening of banks and resumption of a full- fledged shipping connection.