RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SAARC Chamber (Pakistan chapter) and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday jointly slammed Indian premier Narendra Modi for declining Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s offer for participating in SAARC summit in Islamabad and said India’s stubborn stance on SAARC will lead to disrupt process of making South Asia a global superpower and jeopardize all efforts designed for achieving durable peace and prosperity in the region.

Vice president Iftikhar Ali Malik while talking to media said South Asia cannot progress in any sphere of life unless the core issues between Pakistan and India are addressed promptly through a series of result-oriented parlays.

He said India is committing unprecedented atrocities in the occupied Kashmir and using all available resources to stifle the voices of liberation of Kashmir. He said without solution of Kashmir issue durable peace is not possible, so Pakistan and India must resolve outstanding economic and security disputes including the Kashmir issue to fully exploit economic potential of eight-member SAARC for better future and durable peace in the region.

FPCCI vice president and regional chairman Ch Arfan Yousaf said Modi should play a positive role in reviving the stalled SAARC Summit process setting aside his prejudice and political insularity. “War is no solution to disputes and both the countries should resolve issues through dialogue,” he added.

He urged the leadership of both the countries to resolve issues through diplomatic channels. He said SAARC had the potential to become one of the major global centres of economic power. “For this to happen, South Asia needs peace, stability and mutual cooperation,” he added. The Lahore Chamber’s senior vice president Khawaja Khawar Rashid said Pakistan had offered dialogue to India for the resolution of the Kashmir issue but the offer was always rejected, asserting that Pakistan had always remained committed to peace and regional cooperation. He said they would continue to work in the larger interest of people of this region. However, he reiterated that to achieve durable peace in South Asia, settlement of the Kashmir dispute was inevitable.

LCCI VP Zeshan Khalil said it is an important organisation both for Pakistan and India. This is not an organisation to settle disputes but it is exclusively designed to work for the common challenges and development of the region,” he added.