Growth Of Trade With Pakistan Thought Likely

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 14

Growth Of Trade With Pakistan Thought Likely

There were good possibilities of an expansion in trade between Pakistan and New Zealand, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand (Mr M. A. Malik) said in Christchurch yesterday.

Asked for his reaction to a new marketing programme,

involving bilateral trading, which is being initiated by the New Zealand Dairy Board, Mr Malik said he had planned to have talks on the possibilities of expanded trade with the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall). “However, Mr Marshall was too occupied with the Development Conference and could not see me in Wellington,” Mr Malik said.

He intended to return to New Zealand in October from Australia, where he Is stationed, for talks with the Minister. He will then bring with him his country's Trade Commissioner. Recent Increase

During the last few years, trade had increased between the two countries, Pakistan buying mainly dairy produce and New Zealand importing jute, finished goods from jute, some of the coarser wool used for the rough base in carpet manufacture and other goods. Mr Malik said he saw an expansion in trade in the principal commodities now being imported and exported. He considered that Pakistan would buy more dairy produce from New Zealand, although this would have to be considered in the light of Pakistan’s possible absorption. New Zealand and Pakistan were not only situated in the same geographical region, but their thinking was the same, “although I would point out that we have taken individual attitudes within the flexible framework of the Commonwealth.”

New Zealand did give technical aid to Pakistan and also gave higher education to students under the Colombo Plan. There was scope, however, for an exchange of scholars between the two countries whereby a series of lectures would be given in each country.

Mr Malik said he hoped to arrange for an exhibition of Pakistani art, which was to be shown in Australia, tc come to New Zealand. This included painting and sculpture covering the last 5000 years and showed how tradi-

tional arts and crafts were incorporated in new work. Pakistan was a country which depended on aid from developed nations. It had proved to major Powers that it could take assistance without affecting relations between them. Most economic aid came from the United States. At one time, there was no cooperation from the Soviet Union, but now not only was there economic assistance, but also military aid was given. The United States was convinced, however, that opinion would never be hostile to it in Pakistan. Asked why his country was so concerned about arms, Mr Malik said there were major and minor disputes, with India which India showed no sign of moving to settle. It was necessary to keep a deterrent force as a defence in the event of armed conflict