सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari has urged the Pakistani government to increase business activities in Nepal.
During a courtesy call between Minister Bhandari and Pakistani Ambassador to Nepal Abrar H Hashmi at the ministry today, he urged the Pakistani government to do the same as Nepal wants to promote business cooperation with all countries.
Informing about the formation of the Nepal-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group by the Federal Parliament of Nepal, Minister Bhandari said that this parliamentary exchange has played an important role in further strengthening bilateral relations.
He said, “We have established a Joint Economic Commission at the Finance Minister level and a bilateral political consultation mechanism at the Foreign Secretary level between the two countries. We have It is necessary to continue dialogue and contact through these mechanisms. The seventh meeting of the Joint Economic Commission at the Finance Minister level and the fifth meeting of the Bilateral Political Consultation Mechanism at the Foreign Secretary level are scheduled to be held in Nepal.
Noting that despite Nepal and Pakistan being close neighbors, bilateral trade is not happening as expected, Minister Bhandari said that there is a need to increase cooperation in the trade and economic sectors.
He said that in order to increase trade and economic interdependence between Nepal and Pakistan, both countries should make more joint efforts to facilitate trade and address ‘logistical’ challenges.
‘It is time for us to formulate a new agreement or review it to reflect the current economic reality and increase trade facilitation, address the existing trade deficit between the two countries “We want to encourage Pakistani investment in various sectors of Nepal,” he said, “which include textiles and tourism, etc.”
He noted that Nepali goods were facing regulatory challenges in Pakistan and made a special request to simplify the import process of Nepali goods into Pakistan and reduce customs duties on major Nepali exports.
He noted that there are many areas in which the two countries can work together for mutual benefit, including investment, tourism, culture and people-to-people relations.
He stressed the need to prioritize organizing regular meetings of joint working groups on agriculture and tourism. In addition, Minister Bhandari urged Pakistani investors to invest in Nepal’s hydropower, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, information technology, etc.
He said, ‘Nepal provides special attractive tourism services for Pakistani tourists, we believe that Nepal’s natural, archaeological and cultural heritage will attract more Pakistani people to visit Nepal.’
Pakistani Ambassador Hashmi said that the Pakistani government wants to increase commercial activities in Nepal. He mentioned that Nepal’s tea and coffee are being exported to Pakistan with good results and informed that exports will increase if branding and quality are improved.
Hashmi stressed that there is a problem of double taxation to increase trade activities between the two countries and that it needs to be resolved. Informing that 32 students have received scholarships to study in Pakistan this year, he pledged to take initiatives with the government to increase the scholarship amount.
He stressed the need to build a tourist route to connect Nepal’s Mount Everest and Pakistan’s K2 Himal. He also pledged to take initiatives for regular direct flights between Kathmandu and Lahore.
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