Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit today said India and Pakistan have a "long way to go" in normalising relationship but they cannot give up as they must work together to ensure peace and prosperity for posterity.
Addressing the Sixth Meeting of Pakistan-India Joint Business Forum here, Basit also underlined that opportunities between India and Pakistan are abound and the two countries need to embark on a process that is both sustainable and mutually beneficial, according to a Pakistan High Commission release.
"Pakistan is committed to normalising relations with India in line with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's vision of a peaceful neighbourhood. The High Commissioner added that we have a long way to go but we cannot give up. We must work together to ensure peace and prosperity for posterity," it said.
He also emphasised on having a level- playing field to help creating interdependencies, saying this was also necessary in the context of promoting regional connectivity and integration, he said.
Appreciating the Forum's work towards augmenting bilateral economic and trade relations, the High Commissioner said its work and recommendations would come in handy whenever the comprehensive dialogue between the two countries commences.
(REOPENS DEL37)
The Pakistan India Joint Business Forum is headed by Sunil Kant Munjal of Hero Corporate Services from India, while the Pakistani side is led by Syed Yawar Ali Shah, former CEO of Nestle Pakistan.
Other business leaders who participated in the two-day meet included Rajan Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises Ltd and Medanta - The Medicity Chairman Naresh Trehan.
From Pakistan's side, the participants included Bank Alfalah Chief Executive Officer Atif Aslam Bajwa and Gatron Industries Director Shabbir Diwan.
Bilateral trade between the countries declined to USD 2.35 billion in 2014-15 from USD 2.7 billion in 2013-14.
