The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Friday, while appreciating fifth round of constructive and productive Secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India, has urged representation/consultation of LCCI in Joint Working Groups and task- specific committees formed to resolve issues relating to Pak-India trade. In a statement issued here, the LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik said that though the establishment of Joint Working Group to facilitate business visas is a step in right and desired direction but it would be much wiser if the idea of Common Trade Area at Wagha /Attri is implemented and promoted. “If a Common Trade Area is made available at Wagha/Attari, a number of businessmen would not be needing visa at some earlier stage.”

The LCCI President said that both the governments would have to work hand in hand with the business community to build confidence, dispel misunderstandings and allay misapprehensions. He said that agreement to replace positive list with negative list is very welcoming as through the negative list it would be easier for both the sides to identify the items hurting the local industry in the two countries. The LCCI President said that for the first time in the history of Pak-India talks, a structural approach has been adopted to resolve trade-related issues. The LCCI President urged both the governments to ensure all future meetings should be result-oriented in the larger interests of people of two countries. He said that intention showed by the both countries to explore the possibility of entering into a mutually agreed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to further promote bilateral trade by extending tariff concessions would go a long way and yield positive results for both Pakistan and India.
He urged the Indian government to become positive to resolve the all outstanding political disputes to create more conducive environment for not only the trade but for the issue of Afghan Transit Trade. He said that opening of branches of banks of Pakistan and India in each other countries was a longstanding demand of the business community. India has taken appreciable step by agreeing to facilitate opening branches of Pakistani banks in India but Indian banks should also start their operations in Pakistan.  The LCCI President also welcomed the decision of undertaking a new initiative to enable trade of electricity between both countries. He said that Pakistan was running well short of energy and Indian cooperation to this regard could narrow the gap between demand and supply of electricity. He said that group of experts from both sides should examine feasibility, scope and modalities as soon as possible.

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