"The trade between the two countries has increased about 20 percent in recent time and I see a great hope to establish a direct Karachi-Chittagong shipping link in near future," the envoy said, adding that the business community in Pakistan is actually working out on this issue.

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) organised the meeting at the chamber conference room with Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, its president, in the chair.

The high commissioner informed the CCCI members that Pakistani investors and entrepreneurs are very much interested in investing some sectors like textile, food processing and light engineering in Bangladesh.

"Presently, 50 Pakistani companies have an investment of US$ 90 million in Bangladesh," Alamgir Babar said.

CCCI President Saifuzzaman, however, lamented that the current actual trade scenario between Bangladesh and Pakistan is frustrating and it's much below than the real potentiality.

"In the fiscal year 2004-2005, Bangladesh imported goods worth over US$ 140million while its export to Pakistan during the period stood at only US$ 63million," he said.

The Chittagong chamber chief urged the high commissioner for taking initiatives personally so that the Pakistani businessmen come forward to make investment in Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) and World Trade Centre, now under construction.

CCCI Vice President MA Latif, chamber directors Ershad Ullah, Ashik Bhuiyan, Syed Jamal Ahmed, Mahfuzul Haq Shah and Jahirul Islam Chowdhury Alamgir and Commercial Secretary of Pakistani High Commission Rubina Toufiq Shah also spoke, among others.