Political will needed for increasing Indo-Pak trade: Kaur

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur has called for need for political will and atmosphere of trust between India and Pakistan to exploit the trade potential between the two countries.

Addressing business delegates from India and Pakistan at the ‘Made In Pakistan Show’ organised by CII at the CII Northern Region headquarters at Chandigarh, the minister said research estimates put the trade potential between Pakistan and India at $ 9-11 billion (Rs 47,000 cr approx), while the current trade stood only at $1.78 billion (Rs 82.7 cr approx).

She added there were enormous opportunities in bilateral trade between the two countries that could be achieved through political will and atmosphere of trust. She added the enhanced trade cooperation between the two Punjabs (one in India and other in Pakistan) would have far reaching benefits for consumer, producer and government on either side.

Kaur also called for an urgent need to enhance people to people contact between the two nations.