US business visas from Lahore soon: Consul General

LAHORE - The US Consul General in Lahore Ms Carmela Conroy has said that modalities are being finalized to start issuance of business visas from Lahore and hopefully it would commence as soon as the necessary arrangements to this regard are completed.
She was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday. LCCI President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Senior Vice President Ejaz A Mumtaz, Vice President Faisal Iqbal Sheikh, former Presidents Iftikhar Ali Malik, Mian Anjum Nisar Mian Misbahur Rehman, Mian Shafqat Ali, Mohammad Ali Mian, Mian Muzaffar Ali and former Senior Vice President Sohail Lashari also spoke on the occasion.
She said that the United States was taking all possible measures to ensure economic stability in Pakistan but for the purpose the role of business community was of utmost importance.
The US Consul General said that the United States was more interested in people to people contacts than the contacts between the two governments.
She said that US Secretary of States Hillary Clintons visit to Pakistan was a big success as during her stay in Pakistan she spent more time in having dialogue with all segments of society including politicians, businessmen and students.
She said that Pakistan had a great future ahead and for the purpose the business community would have to come forward so that the desired results could be achieved.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry urged the US Consul General that the business community of Lahore must be facilitated with a platform within the city wherefrom they can easily obtain US business visas, as business-to-business contacts were must to maintain the bilateral trade relations.
He said that the interaction of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of the two countries in patronage of US government could be instrumental in raising the level of transfer of technology to Pakistan. These potentials need to be studied and monitored by the commercial sections of diplomatic missions and also by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries.
The LCCI President said that business delegations composed of sector-specific participants or product-specific group of entrepreneurs could be organized with clear guidelines for transfer of technology. Business houses and diplomatic missions could always join hands to yield tangible results.
Zafar Chaudhry said that both Pakistan and the United States were not only the economic partners but strategic as well and the most importantly, in the present state of affairs, each of us needs the other. In this scenario, the more the businessmen and traders are facilitated, the better economic outcomes will be, and this will ultimately bring the prosperity to Pakistan.
The issues regarding Free Market Access, delay in execution of Reconstruction of Opportunity Zones, Energy shortage, Afghan Transit Trade and exchange of trade delegations were duly raised by LCCI former Presidents to which the US Consul General assured them of her fullest support.