ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) President Shaban Khalid said that bilateral trade of around $ 3 billion between Pakistan and India is very low as more trade has been taking place via third channel. He stressed that Pakistan and India should facilitate direct trade to achieve win-win results.
He was talking to a big gathering of Pakistani and Indian traders, on Indian High Commissioner T.A.C. Raghavan’s visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
He said Pakistan and India were suffering from common issues including poverty and added that promoting trade was the best avenue to reduce poverty. He said both sides need to improve trade infrastructure to bring it at par with international standards and address all NTBs to facilitate business.
T A C Raghavan said all neighboring countries may have some differences, but improvement in bilateral trade has the potential to transform all aspect of relations between India and Pakistan. He said Indian Prime Minister has urged in his speeches for better relations with all neighbors in order to advance economic growth and investment for reducing poverty and this should be the preferred approach of India and Pakistan to improve living standard of common man.