Deepening SAFTA

FNF South Asia Regional Director Dr. René Klaff “South Asia is the least integrated region of the world”, claims the Director General of the Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development Dr. Safdar Sohail. The state scholar calculates the loss up to 15 bn US-Dollars in the recent 16 years for lack of trade within in the region. As Sohail could not see any advance in the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) since its signing ceremony on January 6, 2004, he called himself a “SAFTA –Pessimist”. His statement during the lecture series of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) provoked critics from participating academics, bureaucrats and businessmen alike: Be it Dr. Aliya Khan, Professor of Economics at Qaid-e Azam University, or Muhammad Maqbool, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), or SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Secretary General Muhammad Iqbal Tabish, or voices from the audience - scholars, bureaucrats and
Dr. Safdar Sohai, Director General Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development business stemmed themselves against this attitude. The danger of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy was seen as given if politicians do not leave particular interests aside in order bring SAFTA to full life.

Especially, several followers of the lecture under the title Regional Economic Cooperation: Deepening of SAFTA highlighted in other words what SAFTA agreement claims: “to maximise the realization of the region’s potential for trade and development for the benefit of their people […]“. Thus, also a participating Pakistani veteran of the war against India wanted to see a brighter future in economic as well as political terms for his children. He asked to reach out the hand.

Dr. René Klaff, Regional Director of Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), formulated the potential of SAFTA in other words: “Regional economic integration can play a significant role for conflict reduction and the establishment of a peaceful political environment.” Klaff referred also to the European experience: “Regional economic integration has paved the way for political
Dr. Aliya Khan, Qaid-e Azam University reconciliation, for creating a peaceful environment between states and nations – for the first time in European history which is so full with wars and bloodshed.”

Taking into account the achievements so far, it became clear that the work of SCCI is not yet over, but actually its work is more needed now than ever. Thus, entrepreneurs and businessmen have to continue their lobby work with the governments in order to realize the common vision of a prosperous, developed and peaceful South Asia. Accordingly, the FNF Regional Director called during his Islamabad visit: “SAFTA is one of the instruments in this respect. SCCI has played an important role in the formulation of SAFTA, and in lobbying for its implementation.”

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