Pak business community supports 'Aman Ki Asha' RAWALPINDI: The business community of Pakistan supports 'Aman ki Asha' because this peace initiative could help resolve several outstanding issues between the two neighbouring countries. India should display seriousness to practically resolve Kashmir and water disputes for trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and India. Pakistani traders and industrialists want trade ties with India despite some reservations. There are chances of war on the water issue. Improvement in bilateral ties could benefit both the countries, but friendship should not be made at the cost of Kashmir and water. Business people should be given more visa facilities.

These views were expressed by speakers at the Jang Economic Session. The topic was 'The affects of Pak-India Ties on Economy'.

Former Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Rafique Ahmed, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Hamid Akhtar Chadah, former APTMA Punjab zone President Javed Kayani, Rice Export Association Chairman Malik Muhammad Jehangir and former Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Yawir Irfan expressed their views on the topic. Sikandar Lodhi and Intikhab Tariq were the hosts.

Dr Rafiq said it had been clearly defined in the manifestos of all the leading political parties of India that they did not accept the division of the Sub-continent. "India wants its supremacy in the region; therefore, it is not resolving the water and Kashmir disputes. Politics has strong links to trade as political disputes led to blocking of trade," he added.

Hamid Akhtar said Pakistan's export to India was worth $10 million and import was worth $11 million. He said trade between Pakistan and India would get an impetus if the peace initiative 'Aman Ke Asha' launched by the Jang Group and the Times of India succeeded.

Akbar Sheikh said the obstacles in the way of trade between Pakistan and India should be removed. He said Pakistan's large-scale manufacturing growth was two per cent and that of India 18 per cent.

Javed Kayani said result-oriented talks on the Kashmir dispute must be held. "The EU countries resolved their disputes to strengthen trade. The age of resolving disputes through wars has gone," he added.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Pakistani, Indian Rotarians get little hearts beating on both sides This Rotary-Aman ki Asha special page is being published ahead of the Rotary International Zone Institute, Kolkata November 18-20, 2011 at Kolkata, India. At this annual .....more

Yet another sign of hope by Beena Sarwar

The journalists from Mumbai landing in Karachi on Monday (today) will arrive to a warm welcome - and no cell phone roaming. India and Pakistan both .....more

Indian journalists leave for Pakistan News Desk: A 22-member-strong delegation of Mumbai Press Club will leave for Pakistan today (Monday), November 14, which coincides with the birth anniversary of Pandit Ja .....more

Supreme Court expresses shock over Pakistanis in Indian jails, seeks status report Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed shock and dismay over 2 Pakistanis being kept in Jammu and Kashmir prisons for ove .....more

The kindness of strangers: A Schoolboy's story 1946 - 1947: Part II by Iftikhar Malik

The jeep groaned past the Bazar and onto the Convent on the outskirts of Simla, where my cousins Farida and Asma were waiting clutching handbags .....more

Ummeed-e-Milaap: shattering stereotypes, the GenX way: The journey so far Ronnie Philip was the first Indian Hassaan Zafar ever spoke to - and vice versa. Here, the two students from Mumbai and Lahore write about their ground-breaking initia .....more