Trade with India after improved ties: minister

LAHORE
The trade with India will be resumed after improvement in diplomatic ties between the two countries, said Federal Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan. Addressing a seminar titled “Engineers: the complete solution providers to the energy crisis” organised by the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan (Lahore chapter), the minister said that since 2014 there was no dialogue and progress on trade with India.
He said Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz will visit New Delhi for security talks on August 23. He expressed the hope of improving diplomatic relations with India following progress made in the dialogue process. Talking about construction of reservoirs in the country, Khurram called for developing a consensus on technical aspects of Kalabagh Dam. He said time has come that we should resolve all the technical issues related to the construction of the KBD.
There should be clarification that that no city will be drowned with the construction of the dam and increase in availability of water due expanding storage capacity. The minister said once technical issues are resolved then it will be easily for the political leadership to develop consensus on the construction of the KBD. Asserting that energy shortage is the major issue being faced by our country, the minister said assemblies of provinces had passed resolutions against the construction of the dam. Without mustering support and developing consensus, dam will not be built. Khurram said there were multiple solutions of every issue and construction of the KBD is one of solutions of meeting water shortage.