Over 85 Pakistani firms expected at Chandigarh fair

CHANDIGARH - Over 85 companies from Pakistan will participate in a three-day Chandigarh Fair-2010, which will start Friday at the Parade Ground here, an organiser said Thursday.

Pakistani traders have come here with a wide range of products, including melamine, crockery, leather items, embroidery, floor rugs, fabrics, onyx and wall hangings.

Chandigarh Fair, which is being organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is one of the biggest annual shopping festivals of this union territory.

“We are very happy with this huge participation of Pakistan. We have a special bondage with them and this event is the perfect platform to promote ‘Punjabiyat’,” R.M. Khanna, chairman of CII northern region, told reporters here Thursday.

“For the first time there would be a Pakistani food court where five master chefs from Pakistan will serve their delicacies. We also want them to organise a similar fair in Lahore or any other city. They have brought over 85 traders but we assure them that we will take at least 185 business groups with us,” said Khanna.

Besides, there would be live performances by Pakistani singers, flute players, magicians and puppeteers.

Pakistani people are also very enthusiastic about this fair.

“We are very thankful to the CII for giving us a chance to showcase our products here. I have organised fairs in different countries but we are always very comfortable in India. It is the sweet language that joins the people of India and Pakistan,” Kausar Barlas, a representative of Pakistan World Trade and Expo Centre, told IANS.

“Trade and business are the best mediums to bring these two countries closer. India also has rich culture and art forms so we also invite you to Pakistan for a similar exhibition,” stated Barlas.

There would also be displays from states of Gujarat, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.

A social expo will be held concurrently to promote the work of various NGOs and of those organisations that are contributing towards the society.

“On display will be items made by (Delhi’s) Tihar Jail inmates, spices, craft items made by mentally challenged children, hand embroidered works of the beneficiaries of skill development initiative for women and various self help groups,” said Charu Mathur, regional director of CII northern region.

Automobile companies like Maruti, Tata Motors, Fiat and Royal Enfield will also showcase their products and there would be special stalls of organic food.