Mumbai-Karachi are natural allies: Deshmukh

Mumbai, May 23 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today described Mumbai and Karachi as natural allies since both mega cities were engines of progress in their respective countries.

A 37-member Pakistani delegation arrived here today to participate in the first ever five-day Karachi Mumbai exchange conference as part of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA).

Inaugurating the conference, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said despite being smaller in area as compared to Karachi, Mumbai was the more populous among the two cities, with higher per capita income and more percentage of contribution to the national exchequer. Both cities faced slum proliferation and infrastructure problems, he added.

The delegation led by Karachi-based businessman Rafiq Dawood recalled striking similarities between the two cities. All Speakers called for a composite dialogue between the people of the two cities. Mr Dawood mooted the idea of setting up an Economic Union between the two countries.

SAFMA secretary general Imitiaz Alam said the objective of the organisation was to motivate people to grasp the reality that, to become the largest economic power in the world after China in the coming years, people of India and Pakistan have to put their differences behind and rally South Asia towards achieving this goal.

The aim of SAFMA is to encourage forces who matter in the economy and civil society to play a role in changing the course, he added.

He said the Karachi Mumbai exchange was extension of the proposed North east and Bangladesh, Nepal and UP/Bihar, Rajasthan and Sindh exchanges under the aegies of SAFMA. ''Such exchanges lay strong foundation of regional co-operation,'' he added.

MQM member of the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar said Indo-Pak peace process was like a vehicle trying to ascend a slope. ''When brakes are applied, there is need to put stones behind the rear wheel to prevent it from going down,'' he added.

Dr Sattar described the Karachi-Mumbai exchange as a safety wall to prevent the peace process from breaking down. ''We have to ascend the ladder and make the peace process irreversible. We have to break the barriers of ad-hocism. If south Asia has to become a economic hub, both the cities have to complement and supplement each other,'' he added.

SAFMA member and Deputy editor of Hindustan Times Vinod Sharma said politics of hate is a thing of the past. ''Right thinking people have to silence sceptics who create hurdles in the peace process, '' Mr Sharma said.

Mr Haroon of the Karachi chamber of Commerce felt political and economic issues should be dealt separately.

Mr Taj Hyder of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said people of both the countries are firmly resolving that they will not give in to any kind of extremism. ''We have to resolve our differences in civilised manner to our mutual benefit. SAFMA has played a role of a catalyst in bridging the divide between the two countries,'' he said.

Without naming the US, he said that India should gaurd against superpowers showing interest in the country. ''You should respond with all caution. Progress cannot be at the cost of the people.

Pakistan should also gaurd against involvement of superpowers in our region,'' he added.

Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana invited Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to visit Sindh. She said people of both countries should fight against the ''black sheep'' within them who have misguided the people at large on relations between the two countries.

SAFMA President Mumbai Chapter Mr Kumar Ketkar said, exchanges such as this, help policy makers to find a solution for a lasting peace from the present internal strife and external problems faced by all the countries in the Indian sub continent.

Later talking to reporters on the delay in setting up of consulate of Pakistan in Mumbai, Mr Deshmukh assured that the consulate will soon be set up and talks were on in this regard.

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