The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is greatly anguished at suspension of day-old new visa regime by the Indian Prime Minister and Army Chief remarks, terming them a severe blow to trade normalization process being pushed by the business community.

In a joint statement issued here on Wednesday, the LCCI Senior Vice President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Vice President Mian Abuzar Shad and Executive Committee said that Pakistan’s business community is continuously working for improved trade relations with the entire world, especially our neighbouring countries, but it would never compromise on national sovereignty, dignity and interests.

They showed deep concern at the abrupt action taken by the Indian Prime Minister in suspending the day-old new visa regime. They said that the Indian Prime Minister’s decision would damage the process of bringing South Asian countries closer to each other for establishing peace and economic prosperity to the region.

“We have worked hard during the last two years by way of enhanced interaction and coordination on different fronts including diplomatic one, and the frequent visit of delegations by both government functionaries and private sector which has suffered a serious blow because of statements by various Indian government functionaries.”