Pakistan High Commissioner (HC) in Dhaka Syed Ahmed Maruf today spoke at RCCI auditorium in Rangpur. Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, Feb 26, 2025 (BSS) - Pakistan High Commissioner (HC) in Dhaka Syed
Ahmed Maruf has said Bangladeshi businesspersons, tourists, students and all
can get free Pakistani visas within just 24 hours of submitting their online
visa applications.

"Also, direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan are expected to resume
by August next to further facilitate communication between the people,
including businesspersons, of the two friendly countries," he said.

The Pakistani diplomat said this while interacting with members of the board
of directors of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), importers
and exporters at the RCCI auditorium in the city as the chief guest on
Wednesday.

Earlier, in his welcome speech, RCCI President Md. Akbar Ali expressed
gratitude to Pakistani High Commissioner Syed Ahmed Maruf and his entourage
for their arrival in Rangpur city and extended heartfelt congratulations and
best wishes.

He said there are huge opportunities to import dates, oranges and other
fruits and agricultural products from Pakistan and increase exports to
Pakistan in the fields of agricultural products, garments, medicine and
leather.

The RCCI President said Pakistan exports ten times more goods to Bangladesh
than the amount of goods exported from Bangladesh to Pakistan.

Bangladesh mainly exported raw jute, medicines, hydrogen peroxide, tea and
ready-made garments.
 
Cotton is the largest import from Pakistan. In addition, a significant amount
of raw materials for cement come from Pakistan.

"Although there has been continuous growth in trade and commerce between
Bangladesh and Pakistan in recent years, many potential sectors, including
agriculture, textiles, medicines, ICT, are still unexplored," he said.

The businesspersons of both countries can work closely in sectors such as
energy, education, technology, human resource development, research and
innovation to meet the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.
 
The RCCI President made a generous appeal to Pakistani industrialists to
invest and establish agro-based industries in the Rangpur division to further
strengthen trade relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
 
Later, exporters, importers and industrialists of Rangpur division informed
the Pakistani envoy about the potential sectors of bilateral trade and
commerce between the two countries and prevailing challenges to resolve.
 
The Pakistani High Commissioner said there is a good demand for Bangladeshi
goods, like jute and jute products, in Pakistan and requested the Bangladesh
businesspersons to verify the demand for their products in Pakistan.

He said, "We want Bangladeshi businesspersons to participate in the trade
fair to be held in Pakistan in the future and create a market for their
products in Pakistan."

The Bangladesh-Pakistan relations are developing upward on the basis of
mutual benefit and efforts will continue to strengthen the cooperation in the
fields of trade, commerce, education, culture, health and tourism for
economic progress of both countries.
 
"We are hopeful that Bangladesh-Pakistan and people-to-people relations will
become stronger and we desire to move forward in the present and future in
mutual interests of both the nations with a positive outlook," he said.
 
The former and incumbent directors of RCCI, Jamaat-e-Islami Rangpur District
Ameer Golam Rabbani and Metropolitan Ameer ATM Azam Khan, other political
leaders, businessmen, industrialists and journalists were present.