No MEA clearance to Pak traders for expo

ONLY FOUR PAKISTANI TRADERS HAVING SAARC VISA COMING TO ATTEND THE EXPO TO BE HELD FROM DECEMBER 6 TO 10

AMRITSAR:THE ministry of external affairs (MEA) has declined the state government’s plea seeking clearance for participation of exhibiters, visitors and business delegates from Pakistan at the Punjab International Trade Expo-2018. The expo will take place from December 6 to 10.

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chandigarh, with the assistance of the Punjab government has been organising the expo since 2005. An official said additional chief secretary of Punjab industries and commerce department Vini Mahajan had written to MEA joint secretary (co-ordination) Nutan Kapoor Mahawar to get clearance for Pakistani traders. MEA declined the permission saying it did not recommend the participation of members from Pakistan.

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Punjab chapter chairman Rupinder Singh Sachdeva said, “Only four Pakistani traders are coming because they have SAARC visa.” Last year too, the Pakistani businessmen were not granted visas to participate in the event.

In a press release, Mahajan said the trade expo will go a long way in strengthening the economic and cultural ties between Punjab as well as the other states. She said it would also prove to be a milestone in raising awareness regarding brands, forging stable partnerships besides providing push to the trade and business relations.

The additional chief secretary also said that the expo will be attended by the governments of Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, North Eastern states and Himachal Pradesh. Not only this, but the Union ministries of textile, Ayush, khadi and village & industries commission will also be represented in the expo. There is also the likelihood of participation by Thailand, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, South Africa and other global partners.

She said the popularity of this expo can well be gauged from the fact that during the previous edition, over 300 exhibitors from India and abroad took part. The participation of general public crossed two lakh. From foreign countries, Afghanistan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa, Iraq and Egypt participated whereas, from India the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and the North Eastern states participated.