India and Pakistan together boast a market of more than a billion consumers, but their trade relations have always been overshadowed by political tension. Overt and legitimate trade between the two countries has been practically non-existent ever since a total ban was imposed on bilateral business in September 1965. But all this will change if S.M. Inam has his way.
Mr Inam has set his heart on breaking the commercial logjam in South Asia, first and foremost between the two giant economies of India and Pakistan. It is this need that led the burly Pakistani industrialist to champion the setting up of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, of which he became the founding President back in 1994.
As his background bespeaks, this former chairman of the Pakistan Automobile and Parts Importers and Dealers Association, is a free trade-wallah. He says with conviction, "It is incumbent upon all the partners of the SAARC. alliance to remove all hindrances in free trade among our countries." Mr Inam firmly believes that the goal of SAFTA (free rather than preferential trade) is achievable. "It requires better understanding of the issues that are hindering progress. A first step will be the lifting of visa restrictions between South Asian countries, and allowing restriction-free travel and transport of goods."
This would all seem visionary talk if Mr Inam were not also a man of action, and a social worker to boot. A former flyer and president of an aero club, he heads the Sindh Anti-Tuberculosis Association, and is an active organiser of cricket tournaments. Besides inter-regional cricket matches, he is especially keen on the opening up of Indo-Pakistani trade, which is presently practically non-existent other than for informal dealings and cross-border smuggling.