Beyond business as usual
"The only way to peace," pronounced Vineet Jain, the young Managing Director of The Times of India Group, "is commerce". He was speaking at the inaugural session of Aman ki Asha's ground-breaking trade and investment meeting held in Delhi, May 18-19, 2010. Attended by some fifty high-powered Pakistani delegates and a strong contingent of high-powered Indian businessmen, entrepreneurs and CEOs that filled the conference hall, the event was a resounding success that surpassed all expectations, if we say so ourselves.
With the right kind of follow up, it could, as Shahrukh Hasan, Group Managing Director of the Jang Group put it, "be a the start of a new chapter in our history."
The presence and speeches of Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and Shahid Malik, Pakistan's suave High Commissioner in New Delhi gave a real boost to the meeting, taking it beyond the level that most had expected.
The heart-warming speeches and commitment of the other speakers, including Indian icons like Narayana Murthy, the godfather of India's blooming software industry, Dr Brij Mohan Lall Munjal, the 'king of the two-wheeler industry', and Dr Naresh Trehan of Medanta - The Medicity added to the optimism that permeated the entire conference.
"We must take trade to the front burner," said Mr Murthy. "We need Indian and Pakistani scientists to work together to fight common diseases like malaria etc."
"I come from Kamalia (now Faisalabad district)," Dr Munjal told participants. "I have helped my counterparts there whenever I could. When Pakistan's first bicycle was manufactured, I was there to see it roll out of the factory. I will always do what I can for any Pakistani."
"I have advised the government of India to unilaterally open trade for Pakistan," declared his son Sunil Munjal, MD Hero Cycles, and a top businessman in his own right. "India should remove all non-tariff barriers and allow Pakistani entrepreneurs and businessmen access to the vast Indian market. We can review the process after some months and see what harm or good it has done."
India has granted Pakistan most favoured nation (MFN) status - but without textiles, which form 60 % of Pakistan's expoerts. Pakistan uses this as a justification to deny India MFN status.
Dr Trehan talked about the possibility of an Indo-Pak medical society and the need to organise a large, bilateral conference on a high-end medical level that he plans to host within the next year.
There were so many other speakers, so much goodwill. We have reported most of what transpired in earlier pages (compiled at the Aman ki Asha website - www.amankiasha.com). We hope you enjoy this page of the conference and its sidelines in pictures. Here's to more such events.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
With the right kind of follow up, it could, as Shahrukh Hasan, Group Managing Director of the Jang Group put it, "be a the start of a new chapter in our history."
The presence and speeches of Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and Shahid Malik, Pakistan's suave High Commissioner in New Delhi gave a real boost to the meeting, taking it beyond the level that most had expected.
The heart-warming speeches and commitment of the other speakers, including Indian icons like Narayana Murthy, the godfather of India's blooming software industry, Dr Brij Mohan Lall Munjal, the 'king of the two-wheeler industry', and Dr Naresh Trehan of Medanta - The Medicity added to the optimism that permeated the entire conference.
"We must take trade to the front burner," said Mr Murthy. "We need Indian and Pakistani scientists to work together to fight common diseases like malaria etc."
"I come from Kamalia (now Faisalabad district)," Dr Munjal told participants. "I have helped my counterparts there whenever I could. When Pakistan's first bicycle was manufactured, I was there to see it roll out of the factory. I will always do what I can for any Pakistani."
"I have advised the government of India to unilaterally open trade for Pakistan," declared his son Sunil Munjal, MD Hero Cycles, and a top businessman in his own right. "India should remove all non-tariff barriers and allow Pakistani entrepreneurs and businessmen access to the vast Indian market. We can review the process after some months and see what harm or good it has done."
India has granted Pakistan most favoured nation (MFN) status - but without textiles, which form 60 % of Pakistan's expoerts. Pakistan uses this as a justification to deny India MFN status.
Dr Trehan talked about the possibility of an Indo-Pak medical society and the need to organise a large, bilateral conference on a high-end medical level that he plans to host within the next year.
There were so many other speakers, so much goodwill. We have reported most of what transpired in earlier pages (compiled at the Aman ki Asha website - www.amankiasha.com). We hope you enjoy this page of the conference and its sidelines in pictures. Here's to more such events.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Seven Days in March 2012
This week in Pakistan
Monday
March 12
-- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living Fou .....more
This week in Pakistan
A diary of peace--related cross--border events
Monday
March 12
-- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living Fou .....more
Briefs
The ruins of Humayun Tomb resonated with songs in praise of the legendary poets and saints rend .....more
Abida Parveen enthralls audience at Delhi Sufi Festival
The ruins of Humayun Tomb resonated with songs in praise of the legendary poets and saints rend .....more
A hundred years of Manto
Indian journalist Shivam Vij draws on several sources to compile this article about a great short story writer and humanist, revered on both sides of the bordermore
Indian health expert says he grew up hearing stories about Sindh
our correspondent
Dr Girdhar J Gayani stood tall at the podium in his black suit. "Assalamoalaikum and Namaste," he called out. He began his speech, which was par .....more
our correspondent Dr Girdhar J Gayani stood tall at the podium in his black suit. "Assalamoalaikum and Namaste," he called out. He began his speech, which was par .....more
Flavour rules Foodistan and taste buds are currency
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Jang Group's strong resolve of finding common ground to kindle th .....more
Foodistan, the first Indo-Pak joint cooking contest
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Jang Group's strong resolve of finding common ground to kindle th .....more
Surjit Singh case update
In response to a petition filed for the release of two Indian prisoners, Satinder Paul Singh and Karale Bhanudas who had completed their term of imprisonment but remained
.....more
In response to a petition filed for the release of two Indian prisoners, Satinder Paul Singh and Karale Bhanudas who had completed their term of imprisonment but remained
.....more Page 67 of 174
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The News on Sunday Special Report: India Pakistan prisoners
We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
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For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
The Jang Group has entered into an agreement with the Times of India Group, the largest media group of India, to campaign for peace betw
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