Mr. Haroon Rashid, Chairman of Pakistan -US Business Council emphasized on the enhancement of Pak-US economic relations and significant development of the US contributions in the development of Pakistan.

Mr. Haroon has reservations over the signing of Transit Trade Agreement with Afghanistan, which would allow India to use Transit Wagha-Khyber route for trade with Afghanistan. If India is given access to Afghanistan through Wagah their goods will enter Pakistani markets through smuggling by this Transit Trade Agreement. Besides this India will get easy access to Central Asian States through Afghanistan whereas Pakistan is presently denied this facility through TTA with Afghanistan.

When further deliberations are held on the subject, he emphasized that the business community must be taken into confidence thereby ensuring and safeguarding against misuse through smuggling and misdecleration.

The volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and United State is $ 6146 million. Volume of export of Pakistan to United States is $ 3,706 million whereas volume of import from USA to Pakistan is 2,440.41 million.Mr. Haroon urged US authorities to contribute significantly to manage the dislocated persons from Swat who are the real victims of war against terrorism. The majority of 2.5 million dislocated people are children, females, and old age persons. This is one of the worst human tragedies in the decade and US should play a lead role to manage this situation.

Mr. Haroon Rashid is founder of Pakistan-US business council in 2000-2001. He has headed Trade Delegations to United Sates for signing of this Business Council with United States Chambers of Commerce and Industry where Mr. Shaukat Aziz, Minster of Finance, Mr. Tariq Ikram, Minister of State and Mr. Waseem, Minister of State of Revenue witnessed the signing ceremony from Pakistan side. He has recently been elected Chairman, Pakistan -US Business Council.

United States Chambers of Commerce & Industry USCCI was represented by representatives from Trade Treasury Dept and other related US Govt. Departments and US Deputy Defence Secretary Mr. Paul Wolfowitz.