Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

The UAE, Pakistan bilateral trade is on a solid growth trajectory and marching ahead. A delegation led by Khan Zaman Sarwar, a prominent Pakistani businessman, Chairman, Al Ibrahimi Group and Board Member of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently met Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade and Industry. Bilateral trade volume between the UAE and Pakistan as well as other business strategies were discussed during the meeting.

Al Saleh stated that he is looking forward to further accelerate the trade and economic relationship with Pakistan and promised his full cooperation in future.

Khan Zaman mentioned that the business community based in the UAE should take advantage of lucrative trade opportunities lies in Pakistan to strengthen the economic relationship between the two brotherly countries.

He said that Pakistan is bestowed with natural minerals, agriculture, and sightseeing tourism. He also requested UAE to consider investing in Health, Food, Agriculture Travel and Tourism, Real Estate and IT sectors in Pakistan as substantial return on investment can reasonably be anticipated. In addition, several suggestions to boost the trade between UAE and Pakistan have propounded.

 Khan has particularly proposed that it would be of great benefit if UAE and Pakistan will agree to launch the ferry service on daily basis to transport the essentials food items (Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Meat) from Pakistan to UAE. This incentive not only cut down the cost considerably but will also ensure the provision of fresh food to UAE.

 Iftikhar Hamdani (Area General Manager, Coral Beach Resort and Ajman Palace Hotel) indicated that there is still a huge gap to be covered in the field of Hotel and Tourism industry specifically in Northern areas of Pakistan. He also points out that many products of Pakistan origin are being unnoticed in UAE & international markets due to poor finishing and appalling packaging.

 Sohail Khawar (Importer of Pakistani Products) stated that the recommencement of commercial and Cargo flights should be reassessed by the UAE government on account of considerably surge in prices of products being imported in UAE from Pakistan.