70,000 VISIT THE 5-DAY “THE PAKISTAN SHOW”- VISITORS TAKE HOME MESSAGE OF PEACE
- “INDIA SHOW” EXHIBITION BY PHD CHAMBER IN ISLAMABAD IN FEBRUARY, 2016
- PHD CHAMBER TO HOST “SAARC BUYER-SELLER MEET” IN PITEX, 2015 IN DECEMBER
Amritsar, 25 May, 2015
The Pakistan Show came to its logical culmination with the coming together of people from the two nations exchanging love and affection with each other.
“The aim of forging better people to people relations, culminating into B2B trade relations between the two nations through these expos seems fulfilled satisfactorily”, said Dalip Sharma, Director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding, “You can see the nationals of both the countries mingling together with each other, sharing the common rich cultural heritage, language, besides dressing, with the huge rush of visitors thronging the Pakistani Stalls and buying products.”
Sharing that more than 70,000 visitors visited the show over the 5 days, Sharma expressed satisfaction over the overall response to the show.
Responding to the call of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to organize such events in Pakistan as well, where the people from India could visit Pakistan, and a people to people connect could be established on their side as well, Sharma informed, “We have decided that PHD Chamber will hold an “India Show” exhibition in Islamabad in February, 2016 to further strengthen the INDO-PAK trade ties. 100-150 exhibitors will be participating in the show.” The program will be supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, he added.
This would not only boost trade and commerce but also make the people on Pak side more and more receptive to their Indian counterparts and create an environment conducive for further acceptance of each other.
Sharma further informed, “Concurrent to the annual event of PHD Chamber, Punjab International Trade Expo, PITEX, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in association with Ministry of Commerce, Government of India shall organize“SAARC Buyer and Seller Meet” in December, 2015. 100 foreign exhibitors are expected to participate therein.”
The exhibitors and officials from Pakistan were optimistic that the governments, both in India, and Pakistan would be able to plan and organise things for better bilateral trade environment on both sides.
The exhibitions seemed visibly very happy with the response to their products. Khurshid Barlas, Chairman, Regional Trade Committee and executive Member, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared that next time, there shall be more additions to the products and variety.
Barlas added that credit goes to such exhibitions and expos as these, which go a long way in confidence building. Bilateral trade is perhaps the only such thing which can pave way to peaceful and harmonious co-existence of the allies.
The 5-day event, said the visiting Pakistani traders, is like a bridge between the two Punjabs. “During our stay here, we failed to realise even once that we are in India. The culture, food, language, and even accent is so similar that not even once we felt out of place”, said Shahnaaz from Lahore.
Tasleem Ahmed Warsi and Mohammed Khilji from Warsi Food Karachi, putting up the Pak food court in the exhibitions said the love being showered on us is simply amazing. Inviting the Indian to visit Pakistan, Ahmed said, “It would be wonderful, if people from India also visit Pakistan and see themselves how Pakistanis long to visit India.”
The designer lehangas, anarkali suits, gems, jewellery, and juttis are the other big hit with the visitors, specially the youngsters. The polka, kundan, and oxidized jewellery sold like hot cakes.
It being the last day, people thronged the Trillium Mall since early morning. Sharma appreciated and thanked the masses at Amritsar for making the 5-day expo so successful.
“The potential gains from the increased bilateral co-operation between Indian and Pakistan are immense. Relaxed issuing of visas, rupee trade and lesser complications in customs procedures may well enhance the scope for trade”, said Sharma.
The two sides have been making efforts to strengthen the economic relations between the two countries. Remarking that better relations are a win-win situation for both traders and governments, Sharma said “As it is, informal trade between Indian and Pakistan via third countries like the United Arab Emirates (mainly Dubai), Singapore and Hong Kong is estimated at $10 billion. Moreover, the legalized trade would reduce costs and increase government revenue.”
India and developed high competitiveness in services sector. Other areas with potential for cooperation in the near future could be petroleum products, iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automobiles, heavy industries, electricity trade, small and medium enterprises, IT and IT enabled services, telecommunications, transportation and financial services, he added.