ID :
13852
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 08:53
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http://m.oananews.org//node/13852
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PML-Q slams Pak's "India-centric" trade policy
Islamabad, Jul 25 (PTI) Slamming Pakistan government's new trade policy for being "India-centric", the opposition Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) has threatened to launch a countrywide strike against it and linked the improvement in bilateral economic ties to the resolution of the Kashmirissue.
The P.M.L.-Q alleged the trade policy was covertly aimed at granting India the "most favoured nation" status and claimed the government had already decided to award the contract for the Thar coal power project to the RelianceGroup.
"This trade policy is India-centric and a bid to appease the Indian government, while the P.M.L.-Q thinks that all trade routes to India pass through Kashmir," P.M.L.-Q parliamentarian Sheikh Waqas Akram told reporters hereThursday.
The trade policy, unveiled last week, approved the import of 136 new items from India, including fuel oil and diesel andC.N.G. buses.
The Pakistan government had also invited three Indian companies – Tata, Reliance and Essar – to a meeting of potential investors in the power sector to discuss thedevelopment of the Thar coal power project.
But the P.M.L.-Q claimed the policy would facilitate the"loot" of Pakistan's natural resources by Indian businessmen.
It said all such bids would be resisted with the support ofthe Pakistani business community.
The party threatened to launch a nationwide strike against the new trade policy after consulting the businesscommunity.
Akram further said: "a conference will be held in America regarding the Thar coal project during the Prime Minister's visit (next week) while it has already been decided.... to award this project to the Indian company." He did not give anyproof to substantiate his claim.
The new policy only encourages imports from India whileexports to that country have been totally ignored, he claimed.
No country allows its "adversary" open access to itsnatural resources, P.M.L.-Q leaders said.
They also criticised the Pakistan government's decision to raise the prices of petroleum products and othercommodities.
Akram said an urgent session of Parliament should be convened to debate such issues. PTI RHL
The P.M.L.-Q alleged the trade policy was covertly aimed at granting India the "most favoured nation" status and claimed the government had already decided to award the contract for the Thar coal power project to the RelianceGroup.
"This trade policy is India-centric and a bid to appease the Indian government, while the P.M.L.-Q thinks that all trade routes to India pass through Kashmir," P.M.L.-Q parliamentarian Sheikh Waqas Akram told reporters hereThursday.
The trade policy, unveiled last week, approved the import of 136 new items from India, including fuel oil and diesel andC.N.G. buses.
The Pakistan government had also invited three Indian companies – Tata, Reliance and Essar – to a meeting of potential investors in the power sector to discuss thedevelopment of the Thar coal power project.
But the P.M.L.-Q claimed the policy would facilitate the"loot" of Pakistan's natural resources by Indian businessmen.
It said all such bids would be resisted with the support ofthe Pakistani business community.
The party threatened to launch a nationwide strike against the new trade policy after consulting the businesscommunity.
Akram further said: "a conference will be held in America regarding the Thar coal project during the Prime Minister's visit (next week) while it has already been decided.... to award this project to the Indian company." He did not give anyproof to substantiate his claim.
The new policy only encourages imports from India whileexports to that country have been totally ignored, he claimed.
No country allows its "adversary" open access to itsnatural resources, P.M.L.-Q leaders said.
They also criticised the Pakistan government's decision to raise the prices of petroleum products and othercommodities.
Akram said an urgent session of Parliament should be convened to debate such issues. PTI RHL
