The Hindu Business Line : To strengthen trade relations, explore business opportunities — Rotary clubs of Karachi, Chennai join hands

Mr Abdul Aziz Memon, President, Rotary Club of Karachi (left), and Mr D. Sudhakara Reddy, President, Rotary Club of Madras, at the sister club agreement signing ceremony in Chennai on Tuesday. — Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai , March 30

WHY should Pakistani businessmen have to buy Indian goods through Dubai? "We have wasted 50 years in playing this game," according to the President of the Rotary Club of Karachi, Mr Abdul Aziz Memon.

It is time to explore joint opportunities. Politicians and leaders should understand that people on the Indian subcontinent want to live in peace. "Politicians should not collect votes in the name of animosity but on friendship," he said.

Mr Memon, who is leading a delegation of the Rotary Club of Karachi, was addressing the Rotary Club of Madras after signing a sister club agreement with it here on Tuesday.

Most Rotarians are also businessmen and joint projects could be explored. For instance, the textile industry in Pakistan could buy machinery from India. Though these were being purchased even now, it is being done through Dubai.

Visa regulations too need to be relaxed. This would help to encourage interaction. "There is too much running around involved now," he said.

There are also opportunities to carry the agreement between the two clubs forward, which would also strengthen relationships between the two countries. For instance, youngsters from Pakistan can visit India and stay with the families here. This would help them to "understand issues and opportunities," he said.

Mr Memon said that the delegation has signed a similar agreement with the Rotary Club of Colombo, Sri Lanka, where they are looking at a blood bank project. In Chennai, for instance, they would be interested in a project to put up hand pumps to provide water. Similarly, the Rotary Club of Madras could consider a school project in Karachi.

The delegation is on the fourth day of its visit to India, and has entered into an agreement with the Rotary Club of Bombay. They will sign a similar agreement in Bangalore on Wednesday. The members have been bowled over by the hospitality and warmth here, he said.

The President of the Rotary Club of Madras, Mr D. Sudhakara Reddy, who signed the agreement, said that the agreement provides for mutual visits to each other's country and to various clubs and support each other in community service activities. This relationship would also strengthen trade relations because Rotarians are also involved in various businesses, and they could explore business opportunities.