Kathmandu, Feb. 14: The Nepal Chamber of Commerce has urged the Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal for bilateral trade facilitation.

In a meeting with Pakistani ambassador to Nepal Syed Haider Shah today, Chamber President Rajendra Malla appealed to the Pakistani envoy for his positive intervention to begin direct flight from Kathmandu to Karachi city in Pakistan to promote trade between the two countries.

President Malla underscored operation of immediate direct flight between Kathmandu to Karachi and vice versa to promote tourism and other economic activities.

Malla said, “The air distance between Nepal and Pakistan is about three hours. If we could utilize this, we could increase trade volume between two countries and as a member of SAARC forum, both countries could reap benefits by increasing economic activities.”

Nepal has been importing dates, leather products, machinery products and among others while Nepal has been exporting honey, tea, handicrafts, eye lenses and woolen yarn threads.

Currently, Nepal’s import from Pakistan amounts to over Rs 1.4 billion annually while export to Pakistan is recorded at over Rs 100 million.

On the occasion, Pakistani ambassador Shah said the matter should be pushed through government level for operation of direct flights between Kathmandu and Karachi. He also pointed out the need to identity the areas of economic prospects benefitting the both countries.

He also pledged to hold discussions among the officials of both countries’ Chambers of Commerce. The Pakistani envoy also vowed to take initiatives to expand the economic activities between the two countries.