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MULTAN, Jan 20 (APP):Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Pakistan, Md Iqbal Hussain Khan on Monday
invited the business community to invest in his country for cementing business
ties between the two countries.
“Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) has a lot of potential to be engaged
with Bangladesh. Pakistan produces high quality and variety of cotton which is not
being produced in even its neighbouring countries. We have ready-made garments
industry,” he said while addressing the MCCI executive here. He informed that both
the countries had a common history, adding “we support each other and have strategic
interests. Bangladesh is considering importing live calves from Pakistan for better
food security besides dates, the High Commissioner said and added that both
governments had signed an MoU of 50,000 metric tonnes Pakistani rice”.
In the last 10-14 years, our relations have suffered, Now in 2024, new doors have
opened for both countries, business fraternity should grab the new opportunity.”
Hussain maintained. He said that he was delighted to visit the city of saint, Muhammad
Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture and Central Cotton Research Institute (CRRI),
adding that he had visited Bahawalpur too. Education is the prime sector for development
of the country including economy and social economy, the high commissioner informed.
Earlier, MCCI president Bakhtawar Tanvir Sheikh said that Pakistan-Bangladesh had
cordial relations based on a common religion and shared struggle for independence.
The bilateral economic relation is also quite healthy as Pakistani investors have invested
billions of dollars in various sectors of Bangladesh namely, leather, textile and garments.
Furthermore, both countries are the founding member of South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
During the fiscal year 2023-24, Bangladesh imported goods worth $627.8 million from
Pakistan while exporting goods valued at $61.98 million. About 55 percent of Pakistan’s
total exports to Bangladesh come from the textile and apparel sector, while most of
Bangladesh’s exports rely on the ready made garment sector. This highlights the scope
for diversifying the range of products involved in import-export activities, he explained.
Sheikh stressed the need of direct flights from Multan, Lahore to Dhaka to facilitate the
businessmen.
Deputy High Commissioner, Amin Ul Islam, MCCI SVP, Kh Mohsin Masood, VP Azhar Baloch,
Women Wing Convener, Romana Tanvir Sheikh, former president, Kh Muhammad Hussain,
Sheikh Zaffar and others attended the meeting.