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| HOME | Wednesday, March 10, 2010 15:42 IST |
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India and Pakistan have started boosting their relations, albeit, with no definite agenda or concrete plan. The confidence building initiatives taken by both countries are commendable given the domestic compulsions at either side, but something more need to be done on the trade front. The Indo-Pak trade, which was around $200-million just a few months ago, is more than doubled now, and the industry sees the figures could easily cross $1-billion by the year-end and $10-bn by 2010. For businesses as well as Governments, It is a good sign. But to achieve such figures, the Governments have to work really hard. Identifying more trade routes, allowing freight movement via rail or operating cargo trains, setting up warehouses, upgrading quarantine facility are among few major issues they need to work with definite timeframe. At the same time, it is also important for both governments to consider allowing transit cargoes (third country consignments) and optimising the potential of two-way ocean trade. It is heartening to note that both of them are moving in these directions, as talks to shelve their 30-year old Shipping Protocol with the modified one is in progress, if reports emerging from Pakistan are to be believed. The new treaty will facilitate third country cargo, once both Governments representatives sign it in March this year. Interestingly, the Pakistan Commerce Ministry has formally conceded the local trade chambers proposal for opening up more trade routes bordering India. At present, the Indo-Pak cargo goes via Wagah Border. Notably, The traders at both sides have firm commitment to tap the business opportunities emerging out of the ongoing goodwill measures that are being implemented by India and Pakistan, wholeheartedly.
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The Delhi, Mumbai international airports modernisation scheme, which the Union Government dithering over the bidding process for past few months, is over, and finally we came to know, who has won which airport. As anticipated, Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees up in arms against the Government’s decision of privatising two major cash-rich airports. They fear losing jobs despite an assurance from the Government of India that the selected bidders will retain 60 per cent of the workforce and the AAI will absorb the balance. However, the ongoing nation-wide agitation could show us something else then the poor employees fight for survival over the privatisation move. The left-leaning trade unions’ plays national security card and mix patriotic ingredients to the airports modernisation -- proclaiming possible sale of Airports Authority of India in future. Anyone who wants efficient cargo, passenger-handling system in place, would definitely support the Government’s this move. We have to see how goodwill prevails in the days to come.
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