News
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
A new chapter: Pakistan-India ties enter transformational phase* Pakistani parliamentarians express resolve to improve bilateral relations with India
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-India ties entered a transformational phase as an 11-member parliamentary delegation arrived in India via the newly constructed border checkpost at Attari, Jinnah Institute stated on Monday. This visit of Pakistani parliamentarians has been jointly organised by Pakistani think tank Jinnah Institute and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry as part of a track 2 dialogue to determine ways and means to bolster ongoing peace efforts.
Titled, ‘Redeeming Our Tryst with Destiny’, this dialogue aims at introducing Pakistani parliamentarians to their counterparts in India to help develop public consensus on greater cooperation between the two states.
Pakistani parliamentarians reiterated the commitment of the current government to improving relations with India, particularly through trade-related bilateral agreements. The Indian Punjab’s finance minister welcomed the Pakistani delegation and expressed the desire of Indian authorities to take the peace process towards sustainable solutions on all fronts.
The present volume of India-Pakistan trade stands at $2.6 billion and according to various studies, it is estimated that Pakistan’s export to India could rise by a staggering 200percent. Furthermore, the total quantum of trade within a decade can jump to over $20 billion. The delegation reached Delhi where the Pakistani parliamentarians will engage with their Indian counterparts on matters of mutual importance and deliberate on several proposals of bilateral cooperation. On Sunday evening, India’s State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Rajiv Shukla, hosted a reception for the visiting Pakistani parliamentarians. The Pakistani delegation will return tommorow(Wednesday). The delegation comprises Senator Saeed Ghani (PPP), MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi (MQM), MNA Abdul Rashid Godil (MQM), Senator Rubina Khalid (PPP), Senator Saifullah Magsi (PPP), MNA Ayaz Amir (PML-N), MNA Mansab Ali Dogar (PML-N), MNA Bushra Gohar (ANP), Senator Farah Aqil (ANP), MNA Kashmala Tariq (PML) and MPA Hafiz Nauman (PML-N).
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk