ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to visit Bangla Desh witha big businessmen team, which the Dhaka High Commissioner to IslamabadTarek Khan hoped will open new vistas of cooperation between the twocountries, and improved relations as well as open new vistas of economiccooperation between them Pakistan and Bangla Desh, although very friendly,bonded by fraternal ties, however some sort of strained relations, whichImran’s visit and talks with counterpart Sheikh Hasina Wajid will bevaluable.
Speaking at a luncheon hosted by BD deputy high commissioner in KarachiNoor-e-Helal Saifur Rehman at a local hotel here Tuesday, he said the twocountries has bilateral trade of 800 millions dollars, of which Pakistanhad a major chunk of 746 million, while his country’s exports to Pakistanwas like peanut at 54 million dollars.
However now that both leaders had an informal meeting, and according toforeign office sources, Imran Khan had already telephoned Sheikh Hasina,couple of months back, his visit gained substantial importance and couldwell be a big step forward.
Being happy in Karachi once again, the High Commissioner said, he alwaysderived pleasure to being in this “gateway of progress for Pakistan”. Hiscountry, he emphasized was a large export market, and also for adding toinfra-structure for Pakistani entrepreneur.
He said, Bangla Desh, under the present leadership, has embarked on amambitious programme of development, has already taken big stride forward inthat direction, and in 2021 will add to its values, with vision and planfor Sheikh Hasina, by 2041 may well be in the line of developed coutries.
Pakistani businessman and entrepreneur can benefit from the new approach.
Pakistanis can import ships,bicycles, as his country was no more agrarianeconomy, but is moving fast towards modernization, with second only toChina in garment production, new factories are coming up in Comilla,Sylhet(once known for its tea gardens).
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A joint Pak-BD business council was needed to keep under constant review oftrade, economic and investment issues. He hoped that talks Pakistan Premierwill have with his country’s leadership, will concentrate on these issues.
Admitting that some visa problems hindered exchange of delegations, butabsence of visa consular at islamabad high commission and Karachi consulategeneral was the reason.
Now these officers are being placed. Hopefully visa problems will ease tosome extent. Despite that visa for Bangla Desh to genuine businessmen andnotables were issued. However this will be subject to approval.
Earlier the Deputy High Commissioner, Noor-e-Helal, with help of videos,slides and figures, made a ewel presentation of the tremendous progressmade by his country, in digitilisation, computer programming,infra-structure growth, exports, GDP growth at over 6 percent, target being8 percent and above in next couple of yearas.
