LAHORE: A seven-member British Parliamentary delegation led by Nigel Paul Huddleston on Monday visited Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and shown keen interest in enhacing trade and economic relations between the two countries.
LCCI President Abdul Basit and Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa spoke on the occasion while Mian Zahid Javed, Zeeshan Khalil, Khamis Saeed Butt, Dr. Qurat ul Ain, Mian Abdul Razzaq and Haji Muhammad Akram were also present.
Head of the delegation Nigel Paul said the visit of British Parliamentarians is a continuation of high-level exchanges between the two countries, adding this visit will further enhance and strengthen Pakistan-UK relations and up-scale existing co-operation in diverse fields, particularly in areas of common interest.
Pakistan has made a significant progress during the past few years in economic and social sectors, he maintained.
The delegation members pledged to work for better visa policies for businessmen. LCCI President Abdul Basit said the UK’s main reason for being developed country is their strong socio-political atmosphere where people and government work hand in hand for betterment of the country.
Lahore Chamber has been maintaining good working relations with all the departments working in Pakistan under British High Commission, and heads of British Department for International Development, UK Trade and Investment, British Business Center etc. keep visiting Lahore Chamber to identify areas and make joint efforts to promote trade and investment relations between two countries, he mentioned.
Abdul Basit said the development work under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is being carried out at good pace whose total worth is almost dollar 46 billion.
Gawadar Port has become partially operational and it is a big opportunity with regard to economic future of Pakistan, as other countries including Russia, Germany, Iran are showing interest to be partner in this mega project. “We urge that UK-based investors should also participate in it. You can definitely play role in this connection,” he said.
He said a large segment of population living in UK belongs to South Asia and UK is a second home for a number of Pakistanis, who are playing excellent role in all segments of life in that country. “It is our good luck that today Parliamentarians from UK who have a great role in policy making are sitting with us. We hope that our relations with UK-based community will improve and today’s meeting will go a long way in strengthening political as well as trade and investment relations between two countries,” he added.
