The business sector in Pakistan encourages PM Shehbaz to start trading with India

ISLAMABAD In an effort to restore political and economic stability to Pakistan, the business sector has pushed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to open trade with India and “shake hands” with imprisoned former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.

During a meeting on Wednesday in Karachi with business leaders, Sharif gave them the assurance that he would take their recommendations seriously and work with them to develop a comprehensive policy framework that would guarantee export-led development and address Pakistan’s foreign currency reserve issue.

In order to treble export volumes during the following five years of his government’s tenure, he asked for their help.
In order to discuss his country’s application for a fresh, bigger, longer-term IMF loan, Sharif met down with business leaders. Muhammad Aurangzeb, the finance minister, said that Islamabad might have a staff-level consensus on the new program by the beginning of July.
Business leaders expressed their gratitude for the government’s recent actions during a question-and-answer period that followed the PM’s short speech, but they also made further requests. They also voiced worries about political instability and exchanged ideas for economic strategies to achieve the desired results.

Top Pakistani entrepreneur Arif Habib stated, “You have made a few handshakes after taking charge that have produced good results and progress on the IMF deal is one of them.” “I’d want you to shake hands a few more times. Trade with India is one of them, and it would be very beneficial to our economy. Second, you need to mend fences with an inmate of Adiala Jail as well (a reference to imprisoned PTI leader Imran Khan). I think you can succeed if you try to make the necessary corrections at that level as well.
The prime minister did not directly address worries about political stability, but he said he had taken notice of his suggestions for economic expansion and had promised to bring businesses to Islamabad soon so they could sit with him “until all the issues are resolved.”
After the Modi-led government altered Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, Pakistan severed its diplomatic ties and halted commerce with India. Since then, Pakistan has connected the restoration of the Himalayan region’s unique status to its resolve to normalize relations with India.
Nonetheless, the current government of Pakistan has been working to foster an atmosphere that is favorable for trade and economic relations, with the tacit consent of the military establishment.