The Pakistan show came to its end on Monday with over 60,000 people visiting the show. “The aim of forging better people to people relations, culminating into B2B trade relations between the two nations through these expos seems to have been fulfilled,” said Dalip Sharma, Director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding, “You can see the nationals of both 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 from there.”
“The cultural programmes during the five-day event along with performances by noted Pak Sufi singers Arif lohar and Malkoo did touch the chord with people asking for more,” added Sharma.
The Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry called on PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry to organise such events in Pakistan as well, where people from India could visit Pakistan, and a people to people connect could be established on their side as well. This would not only boost trade and commerce but also make the people on their side more and more receptive to their Indian counterparts.
The exhibitors and officials from Pakistan were optimistic that the new Governments, both in India, and Pakistan would be able to plan and organise things for better bilateral trade environment on both sides.
The exhibitors seemed visibly happy with the response to their products. Khursheed Barlas, CEO, Pak World Trade and Expo Centre said next time, there would be more additions to the products and variety. He added that credit goes to such exhibitions and expos as they 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 five-day event, visiting Pakistani traders said, 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.
“The potential gains from the increased bilateral co- operation between India 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.