CHANDIGARH: Pakistani traders participating in the Chandigarh Fair organized by the CII here have been bowled over by the hospitality of Indians and believe if the trade and business ties grow between the two countries; it will also help improve the relations between the two nations.
As many as 85 Pakistani companies are offering myriad stuff, soul-stirring music and lip-smacking cuisines at the four-day fair organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which started on Friday.
“Whenever we travel to India, we don’t feel that we are in any different country. The feeling which we get here of oneness and being among your own is something we cannot get anywhere else,” Kausar Barlas of Pak World Trade and Expo Centre told PTI here.
She said that trade and business ties between the two countries should grow and people-to-people contact should be encouraged. “It will also help in improving relations between the two neighbors,” she opined.
Shahzad Ali, whose stall ‘Rohi Rang’ at the fair is offering embroidered unstitched suits from Karachi, said “The people here are very warm and affectionate. I found that citizens are law abiding and well-educated”.
Mohammed Usman of ‘Tourist Khusa House’ in Lahore, whose stall selling the famous “Lahori juti” got overwhelming response, said he liked Chandigarh, which was well-planned and a clean city like Lahore and Islamabad. (More) PTI SUN
Usman explained that a “juti” (shoe) in Lahore is callled “Khusa” and he had brought best hand-made jutis from his country, all in the range of Rs 400, which had been liked by people here very much.
However, few traders including Anis Ahmed of “Techno International”, selling 3-piece cotton suits brought from Karachi and Anees Lakhani of “She-N-She” selling cotton embroidered suits, rued that the response to their items from the people here has been poor.
“We were expecting a good business, but that did not happen. First two days were ordinary and business picked up on Sunday, but we will be packing soon as today is the last day.
It would be better if organizers keep the fair for a longer duration,” Anees, whose ancestors belonged to Delhi, felt.
Lakhani said though business was lukewarm, but he said “people are very warm and cooperative”.
During the Chandigarh Fair, traders from Pakistan are showcasing a wide range of products, including world famous marble Onyx, crockery, leather items, embroidery, textile items, Multani-embroidered fabrics, shawls and handicrafts.
Chandigarh Fair is one of the biggest annual shopping extravaganza of this union territory.
Live shows by Pakistani singers and Pak cuisines also regaled the people here.
Chairman of CII Northern Region R M Khanna said, “We are very happy with this huge participation of Pakistan. We share a special bond with them and this event is the perfect platform to promote Punjabiyat of both sides of the borders”.
-PTI
