SLAMABAD: India High Commissioner to Pakistan Sharat Subharwal has said that a breakthrough is bilateral relations between India and Pakistan is expected as both countries have decided to ease visa restrictions.A high-level Indian delegation held successful talk with Pakistani counterparts in the Interior Ministry on June 2-3, he informed adding that next round has been scheduled in the beginning of August in New Delhi which can be beginning of a new era.Speaking at a lunch hosted by FPCCI in honour of Rajinder Kumar Sharma, outgoing Commercial Counsellor, Subharwal said we have reached to the conclusion that bilateral trade is the best tool to melt the ice. “It is the most effective Confidence Building Measure,” he said.He said that Pakistani trading community have long been pushed improved relations with India but these positive efforts reached new heights during the era of president FPCCI, Senator Haji Ghulam Ali.He said that we will continue to facilitate local business community with an aim to boost trade which will be a win win situation for the two countries.Earlier, in his welcome address President Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haji Ghulam Ali said that only enhanced trade can result in brotherhood between two neighbours.He lauded the services of RK Sharma saying that he tried his best to bring people of Pakistan and India together during his three-year stay in Pakistan. “His services will be long remembered,” he said.Ghulam Ali said that the business community will miss Sharma and hoped that his successor Arvind Saxeena will also follow the suit by forging close ties with local businesspersons.
In his address, Mr Sharma said that he will never forget hospitality of Pakistanis. “I will be posted in New Delhi but my heart will continue to beat with Pakistanis,” he said adding that his doors will always be open for all Pakistanis.Rahul Kulshreshth, Deputy High Commissioner of India said that they would try their level best to improve relations between people of the two countries.Malik Sohail Hussain, Chairman Media, FPCCI, said that the efforts of business community would result in enhanced trade and cordial relations that will help tens of millions of people in both countries living below the poverty line.Among others, Vice Presidents of FPCCI, Ghulam Farooq, Fazal Elahi, Dr. Shehla Javed Akram, Hameed Akhtar Chadda, Raza Khan, Shahid ur Rehman, President RCCI Ali Raza, President ICCI and others were also present on the occasion. – Onlinenews
