Ashraf Khan
Karachi: Nepal’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Rita Dhital, has called for enhanced trade, investment, and connectivity between Nepal and Pakistan, stressing that improved air links and stronger business cooperation would significantly deepen bilateral economic and people-to-people relations.
Speaking during her visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the envoy said Nepal is keen to attract foreign investment and promote cross-border partnerships. “Governments do not always see opportunities the way businesspeople do. Therefore, we want the private sector to drive trade and investment initiatives,” she remarked.
The meeting was attended by Honorary Consul of Nepal Mushtaq Chhapra, KCCI President Muhammad Rehan Hanif, senior chamber officials, and business leaders.
Ambassador Dhital noted that Nepal and Pakistan have enjoyed over six decades of friendship and cooperation, reflected through diplomatic visits, cultural exchanges, and institutional linkages. She said Nepal has built a strong foundation for collaboration through agreements and memoranda of understanding covering trade, tourism, aviation, agriculture, and culture.
She highlighted that despite many complementarities, bilateral trade remains limited. “We are reaching out to provincial chambers across Pakistan to encourage business leaders to explore new avenues of cooperation,” she said, noting past joint ventures in textiles, hospitality, and banking.
To overcome connectivity challenges, the envoy revealed that efforts are underway to restore direct flights between the two countries, recalling that Nepal Airlines operated services to Karachi until the 1990s, while PIA maintained flights to Kathmandu until 2014. “We are engaging with private airlines to resume operations, which will greatly boost tourism and business travel,” she added.
Dhital invited Pakistan’s private sector to explore opportunities in ICT, digital services, and renewable energy, stressing that “geography should not be a barrier to economic collaboration.” She also pointed out that Nepal offers visa-free entry for up to 30 days for citizens of SAARC countries, including Pakistan, and noted that Urdu and English are widely spoken in Nepal.
The ambassador assured full support to Pakistani businesses, encouraging KCCI to revive its 2005 MoU with the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and to send trade delegations to Nepal. “We are just one email or phone call away to facilitate your connections,” she said.
KCCI President Rehan Hanif, while welcoming the envoy, reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to strengthening trade diplomacy and exploring new partnerships in tourism, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, hydropower, textiles, and IT. He also emphasized the importance of direct air connectivity, exchange of delegations, and cultural linkages to expand cooperation between the two South Asian nations.
