Why dont they just delete the label and make it “Made in Pakistan”?
‘Made in India’ label on relief goods irks Pakistan
By Mariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed “political sensitivity” towards certain relief items coming from India with the label of “Made in India” for use in the earthquake devastated areas.
Earlier it had turned down helicopters flown by Indian pilots because of these “sensitivities”. Meanwhile, the government says it is in the process of identifying items for reconstruction phase of the earthquake-devastated areas in relation to the Indian standing offer of $ 25 million.
When asked, a Foreign Office spokesperson told The News that initially New Delhi had announced a detailed proposal at the donors conference in Geneva but later in a positive turn of events, it asked Pakistan to identify the necessary items worth $25 million.
At the donors conference in Islamabad, New Delhi had merely reaffirmed the amount as Pakistan had failed to identify items at the time. In fact one diplomat said it appeared as if Pakistan was not interested in the offer.
When asked if Islamabad was perturbed by the fact that India was not handing over hard cash, the spokeswoman replied that a lot of countries have this practice. The spokesperson said she would need to verify a report in The Hindu about the fact that the United Nations would soon place orders with India for import of 500,000 corrugated sheets for construction of shelters in quake-affected Azad Kashmir and parts of the North West Frontier Province.
Weeks after the October 8 earthquake, Pakistan accepted the Indian offer of corrugated sheets. It appears that the government has given a green signal to the United Nations Development Programme for the import through the Wagah border subject to two conditions. But Pakistan insists that the sheets should not have “Made in India” markings. This condition has been imposed apparently for reasons of “political sensitivities.”
The organisers have been told that the consignments of sheets will be cleared on a case-by-case basis. So far, diplomatic sources told The News that there has been no response from New Delhi about this fresh demand.
Earlier at the weekly press briefing, the spokesperson said in order to have progress on the composite dialogue process India should have to show flexibility. Pakistan, she emphasised, was committed to this peace process.
Though a trial run of bus took place successfully on the Lahore-Amristar sector, the spokesman, in response to a query, said so far there was no proposal for opening up of visa offices in these cities while New Delhi has yet not cleared the name of Pakistan’s nominated Consular for Mumbai.
Pakistan and India would open consulates in each other’s country from the start of the next year that would help resolve some of problems being faced by the people in getting visas. Responding to another query, she said Pakistan was keeping its options open on the issue of Kishan Ganga dam. Islamabad had the option of appointing a neutral expert or taking the issue to an arbitrator.
As the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) awaits permission from New Delhi to cross over into Azad Kashmir from one of the openings at the Line of Control, the spokesperson said APHC chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq would undertake a visit to Pakistan along with a delegation but so far Pakistan has not received the names of the members of the delegation.
She said that Katwari of Kashmir Study Group was visiting Pakistan in relation to relief and rehabilitation work in the quake-hit areas. Regarding Nato’s presence in Pakistan, she said these forces were here to assist relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake affected areas. They have done a tremendous job in saving lives and helping the people.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr will visit Pakistan later this week. “His visit will strengthen cooperation. It is likely that there will be discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme. There will also be talks on regional and international issues and Iran’s nuclear programme would probably figure in the meetings,” the spokesperson said.
While Pakistan has denied that the IAEA’s report has mentioned nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s help in passing on sensitive nuclear technology to Iran, Tehran has not publicly denied these allegations. The IAEA says that this information was passed on to it by former Iranian government. “The visit offers a useful opportunity to review bilateral relations and intensify cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” she said.