India should be Pakistan's largest trading partner: European Union

[karan21]

ISLAMABAD: India, and not Europe, should enjoy the status of being Pakistan's largest trading partner in order to boost economic growth in the region, European Union Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark has said.

Noting that the EU is Pakistan's largest trading partner at 8.2 billion euros, Wigemark said: "But Pakistan's largest trading partner should not be the EU, rather it should be your neighbours, in particular India."

Regional economic integration in South Asia, he said, is a priority for the EU.

The incoming PML-N government should enhance trade and business with India and implement competition laws to improve Pakistan's economic condition, he suggested while addressing an international conference on 'Role of competition in fostering trade and investment' in Islamabad yesterday.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who is set to become premier for a third term next month, has already signalled that he intends to increase trade ties with neighbouring India to boost Pakistan's economy.

The previous Pakistan People's Party-led government failed to meet a deadline to phase out a negative list regime of trade and give India Most Favoured Nation-status in December last year because of pressure from industrial lobbies and right wing and religious groups and parties.

"To realise the potential for trade and investment in the region, a strong competition system will be essential," Wigemark told the conference attended by experts from India, Canada, the US and Europe.

"Pakistan should seek to become a regional champion of competition, opening its borders for trade and investment," he said.

The new government has a strong political mandate that should be used to remove practices hampering economic growth, foreign investment and trade.

"I have one message for the incoming government - be inspired by the recent elections and create a truly level economic playing field for business in Pakistan...The incoming PML-N-led government should rid the country of cartels, price-fixing, distorting subsidies and kickbacks," Wigemark said.

Reforms in key areas, including the energy sector, will have to be high on the new government's agenda, he added.

"Everyone agrees that Pakistan must address these economic challenges, including insufficient governance in many sectors of the economy," he said.

India should be Pakistan's largest trading partner: European Union - The Economic Times

Raat bhi hai aur baat bhi bhai, to chali mil kar kuch kaam karen

 

[curioususer]

Pakistan will never let that happen. Imagine in war time or in normal times their economy will be dominated by India, it'll become another Bangladesh.

 

[deepak.chauhan2312]

and that will be the end of all the disputes between India and Pakistan as economic dependence will force Pakistan to bow in front of India

 

[airmarshal]

That cant happen. And Pakistan will never bow to India. Pakistan has to find its own path of economic independence.

 

[Rank]

We DON'T NEED India

 

[Ayush]

the attitude(already visible on this thread) wont let this happen..
but on a personal note,i may have had the same attitude if i was a pakistani..

 

[474474]

the attitude(already visible on this thread) wont let this happen..
but on a personal note,i may have had the same attitude if was a pakistani..

well logically speaking, it's obvious

 

[Ayush]

well logically speaking, it's obvious

that's what i said..

 

[Icarus]

Ideally-Should be.

Realistically-Isn't.

Nuff Said.....

 

[Argus Panoptes]

Ideally-Should be.

Realistically-Isn't.

Nuff Said.....

May I be so bold as to amend your succinct comment:

Ideally-Should be.

Realistically-Isn't - and never will be!

Nuff Said ..........

 

[Jango]

Ideally-Should be.

Realistically-Isn't.

Nuff Said.....

Why doesn't Nawaz Sharif get it then?

I suppose he would have gotten some briefings by military folks in the aftermath of the meeting with COAS, so what do you think? Is Nawaz Sharif living in a fool's paradise or can he really work something out?

 

[Argus Panoptes]

Why doesn't Nawaz Sharif get it then?

I suppose he would have gotten some briefings by military folks in the aftermath of the meeting with COAS, so what do you think? Is Nawaz Sharif living in a fool's paradise or can he really work something out?

I think that Nawaz Sharif was saying all the right things before the elections to be taken as a serious politician who could "get things done" to a certain audience abroad. Whether he can actually deliver on what he said will be seen over the next five years.

 

[Jango]

I think that Nawaz Sharif was saying all the right things before the elections to be taken as a serious politician who could "get things done"

Even PPP was saying good things and still is!!!

to a certain audience abroad.

I was seeing a couple of programs on TV, and one journalist said the following:

"Mere aik MNA dost nay kaha keh us nay Saudi Arab jana hai is liayay visa lagwanay Islamabad ja raha hai, main nay us ko kaha keh mere liyay bhi dua karna. Dost nay kaha keh main Umrah karnay thoray hi ja raha hun, main to Saudi say asheerbad lene ja raha hun, aakhir hakumat bhi karni hai na".

Alot of journos, specifically Shahid Masood and other journos who don't run TV shows are saying that alot of things will unfold and if PTI gets a seat from the recount, the whole story will unfold.

Whether he can actually deliver on what he said will be seen over the next five years.

The early signs are not so promising though!

 

[Imran Khan]

ok should be i have no problem

 

[Wright]

I thought China was th largest trading partner?