Presently trading goods on Wagah border and other checking points on Pak-India borders on checked & inspected manually, which is not only a very time consuming practice, it also disturbs the packaging of goods. Therefore, to make this process more reliable, easy and quick, scanning machines should be installed at Wagah and other checking points on Pak-India borders. This was the consensus view of local businessmen in a meeting at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry chaired by ICCI President Mian Shaukat Masud. The businessmen were of the opinion that Pakistan and India have great potential to enhance bilateral business & economic relations for the benefit of their people. They said with the normalization of relations between the two countries, businessmen were happy as peaceful atmosphere was making it possible for them to enhance bilateral trade. However, the growing tension between Pakistan and India after the incident of 26/11 is putting highly negative impact on trade and economic relations between Pakistan and India dampening the hopes of businessmen to explore new avenues for promoting trade with each other. Therefore, they demanded that Pakistan should take steps to establish an atmosphere of mutual trust, understanding and cordial political, business and economic relations with India, which will strengthen the economies of the two countries as well.

Mian Shaukat Masud said both countries are home to huge populations and improved relations will not only generate better employment opportunities for human talent of both countries, it will turn these populations into thriving markets for each other. He said all important regions of the world are emerging as attractive trading blocks to harness each other’s potential of comparative advantage and Europe is the best example of this phenomenon. He said South Asia can also emerge as a big trading block while it is the least integrated region and stronger economic relations between India and Pakistan is a key element of regional integration and stability in South Asia, he said. ICCI President said according to some experts, India and Pakistan have a trade potential of 11.7 billion dollars, but this huge trade potential cannot be exploited fully without normalizing relations between the two neighbors. He said establishment of friendly relations is must to gainfully exploit the vast untapped trade and investment possibilities between the two countries. He said there is large scope for trade in several sectors such as health, entertainment services, information technology, energy, tourism and readymade garments etc.