Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maruf today spoke at a view exchange meeting held between the visiting Pakistani trade delegation and leading businessmen of Chattogram. Photo: BSS

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 23, 2025 (BSS) - Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maruf today stressed on promoting business and reducing trade gap between Bangladesh and Pakistan for the benefit of the two countries.

“There was no alternative to promote trade and economic ties as part of bilateral relations between the two friendly countries,” he said while speaking at a view exchange meeting held between the visiting Pakistani trade delegation and leading businessmen of Chattogram. 

He said, “We have no alternatives to improve business-to-business ties to boost the existing relation...Although there is a bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan, there is a huge trade deficit tilting towards Pakistan which needs to be addressed,” the envoy said.

The meeting was held at the Conference Hall of World Trade Center with Administrator of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) of Chattogram Muhammad Anwar Pasha in the chair. 

The high commissioner said Bangladeshi businessmen will have to work actively on how to increase export to Pakistan rather than increasing import from Pakistan.   
 
There has been a significant change in trade relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan in the last few months, he said referring to the recent introduction of direct shipping links and Bangladesh’s initiative to import 50,000 metric tonnes of rice. 

The envoy put emphasis on direct flight operations between Dhaka and Islamabad to improve further the bilateral trade ties. He later, invited Bangladeshi businessmen to visit Pakistan to explore new business opportunities. 

Welcoming the Pakistan’s intention to promote trade and economic ties, CCCI Administrator Muhammad Anwar Pasha said no notable products from Bangladesh have exported to Pakistan although we have religious, historical and traditional similarities. 

“Whereas Pakistan is the 19th importing country of Bangladesh and about 700 million dollars worth of products are imported from Pakistan every year” CCCI chief said urging all concerned to take steps to eliminate trade gap by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers under the framework of SAFTA and make D-8 PTA functional.  

Trade Attache of Pakistan high commission in Dhaka Zayeen Aziz, Assistant Director of Trade and Investment Authority of Pakistan Sarang Gul and leading traders from both sides including Rishad Matin, Sazia Matin, Mohammad Shafiq Babar Amin Malik Mohammad Adil Khalid Ijaz Qureshi, Muhammad Farhad Uddin, Mohammad Rashedul Islam, Md. Mashiur Rahman Saikat, Mohammad Joynal Abedin and Md. Saiful Islam were present at the event, among others.