Business with pleasure: Motto of Pak delegation

For most family members of the delegation, this is not the first visit to India. Four-year old Ayesha is here for the second time. She wants to enjoy the sea and meet Shahrukh Khan while Bilquis Usman(63), the oldest member of the group, wants to pay homage at the dargah of Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer. Says Riffat Habib, the wife of Mian Habi-Ullah, former president of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), ‘‘people in Pakistan are just waiting for the borders to open and love to come to India because people are very nice and hospitable. Women are crazy for Indian clothes and jewellery.’’ However, there are some serious intentions too. Fitrat Ilyas, the wife of Ilyas Ahmed Bilour who is leading the delegation, has been visiting India very frequently to explore business opportunities in sectors like garments, shoes, bags and leather accessories and interacting with the Ficci Ladies Organisation. She said, ‘‘We have interacted in the past but procedure could not go on due to political problems. Hopefully things will change in future.’’ They are optimistic and plan to visit again in November-December after Eid. The delegates see themselves as an important part of the diplomatic and political process that has been started recently by both the governments. After arriving Bilour said, ‘‘We have brought 150 people from all over Pakistan and have covered all the sectors. We have brought love and harmony for the business community of India.’’

Regarding what makes him so hopeful that things won’t turn sour this time, Bilour feels that statements of Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Jamali were very positive, and ‘‘we feel both the governments are sincere in normalising trade and business.’’ On IPCCI’s agenda, Bilour said,‘‘We will try to strengthen our chamber and talk about bilateral trade. We want that masses should not suffer further because of political reasons.’’

Regarding the issue of Pakistan not granting Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, Bilour said,‘‘MFN will come but it will take some time. Let normalisation of relationships happens first. We have high hopes and think time has come that we should join hands.’’ According to an estimate by FPCCI, the percentage share of Pakistan’s exports to India out of total exports is only 1.05 per cent, whereas the share of Pakistan’s import from India out of total import is 1.8 per cent for the year 2001-02. In comparison to the size of both the economies, the total trade of Pakistan with India is much less. The business communities of both the side feel that with a proper trade climate, trade with Pakistan can increase between $3-4 billion. This includes the legalisation of $2 billion of unofficial trade.