Socio-economic associations and

contemporary issues.

INTRODUCTION

The objective of our presentation and introduction of topic

• Pakistan is bordered by 4 important countries on all

sides.

• China in the north.

• India in the north-east.

• Iran in the west.

• Afghanistan in the north-west.

• Our presentation aims to summarize our economical

and social relations with these four countries.

Importance of geo-strategic position and socio-economic exchange

Pakistan and it’s Neighboring Countries

Countries under discussion

PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Pakistan’s Socio-economic relations with China

• Pakistan has long lasting terms with China and mutual interest is

central point of this strong ties

• Aim to transform strong political relations into strong economic ties.

• Relations with China began in 1950 when Pakistan became first

Muslim country accepting People Republic of China as an

Independent state.

• Both countries have exchanged tours on high level and have made

agreements on many issues.

• China provides Pakistan economic, military and technical assistance.

• China is assisting in improving Pakistan’s Nuclear power sector and in

establishment of seaport in Gwadar.

• China supports Pakistan on Kashmir Issue while Pakistan supports

China on Tibet, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

Overview

• Pak-China Friendshiphas reached newheights recently.

• Delegations visitfrequently to promoteChinese culture.

• Several communityprojects like the Pak-China FriendshipCentre in Islamabadhave been completed topromote goodwill.

• Student exchange takesplace between twocountries every year.

Pakistan-China Social Relations

Inauguration of Pak-China Friendship Center

• In a recent survey on democracy in South Asia, 96% Pakistanis

claimed that China was the ‘friendliest’ country.

• Financial aid is also given for social projects.

• Chinese language is being taught at few private schools and has

been applauded by Chinese Ambassador.

Pak-China Social Relations Continued

• Economic trade between both countries is increasing

• Free trade agreement has recently been signed.

• Military and technological transactions continue to dominate the

economic relationship between the two nations.

• China has been helping to develop Pakistan's infrastructure

through the building of power plants, roads and communication

nodes.

Pak-China Economic Relations

• Current trade between both

countries is at $9 billion,

making China the second largest

trade partner of Pakistan.

• Investment in Pakistan's energy

sectors, amidst a surge of

Chinese investment designed to

strengthen ties.

• Pakistan has in turn been

granted free trade zones in

China.

Pak-China Economic Relations Continued

Economic corridor & railway track

• Pak-China Economic Corridor is under construction.

• It will connect Pakistan with China and the Central Asian

countries.

• Gwadar port in southern Pakistan will serve as the trade nerve

centre for China in oil trade.

• Using Gwadar port will reduce the distance these ships must

travel and will also enable oil transfers to be made year-round.

Pak-China Economic Relations Continued

REPUBLIC OF INDIA

Socio-economic relations with India

• Ever since Independence and the break up of the sub-continent,

Pakistan and India have had less than cordial relations.

• The wars which took place in 1948, 1965 and 1971 further

added to the hostility between the two nations.

• Kashmir issue remains a thorn in relations.

• Now ‘battles’ between India and India are fought on the cricket

pitch, showing that hostility remains in the hearts of the nation.

• Economic relations are strained due to this historical animosity

although the cultural similarities cannot be denied.

Overview

• Pakistan culture is quite similar to Indians as we

Muslims were once Indian Muslims and after

independence we were separated but the rituals and

culture didn’t change.

• They have same degree of cuisines and languages.

• It was even difficult to make a clear distinction

between Pakistani music and Indian music

Social Relations of Pakistan with India

• The millions of

Muslims who migrated

from India to the newly

created Pakistan during

independence came to

be known as the

Muhajir people.

• They are settled

predominantly in

Karachi and still

maintain family links in

India.

Social Relations Continued

People migrating to Pakistan in 1947

• Relations between Pakistan and India have also resumed

through platforms such as media and communications.

• Aman ki Asha is a joint venture and campaign between The

Times of India and the Jang Group calling for mutual peace and

development of diplomatic and cultural relations.

Indo-Pak Social Relations Continued

• The Wagah border

connects Lahore, Pakistan

with Amritsar, India.

• Each evening, the Wagah

border ceremony takes

place in which flags are

lowered and guards on

both sides make a

pompous military display

and exchange handshakes.

Ceremony is viewed by

100s of people everyday.

Indo-Pak Social Relations Continued

• Wedding and matrimonial ties are still there. Some Indian and

Pakistani people marry across the border, particularly with

present generation of relatives who had migrated from India.

• Sports like Cricket and Hockey matches between the two have

often been political in nature and are followed closely by the

two nations.

Indo-Pak Social Relations Continued

• Transport between India and Pakistan has been developed for

tourism and commercial purposes and bears much historical and

political significance for both countries.

• Language is a very important link

between social relation as Urdu is

technically classified as an

Indo-European language on the

Western Hindi branch of the language

tree.

Indo-Pak Social Relations Continued

Urdu & Hindi

• Trade across direct routes has been curtailed formally.

• Actions are being taken for cooperation between the two

countries for the benefit of people through improved

economic relations and Pakistan - India trade to bring

prosperity to people of two countries.

• The bulk of India-Pakistan trade is routed through Dubai.

• But now Pakistan, India agrees over greater trade through

land route.

• In the TTA with Afghanistan, Pakistan refused to provide

India with land route to Afghanistan through Pakistan.

Economic Relations with India

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Socio-economic relations with Iran

• Iran was the first to extend recognition to the new State.

• It established diplomatic relations with Pakistan in May

1948.

• Iran-Pakistan relations have fluctuated over the years.

• Iran supported Pakistan whenever it faced the serious crises

and was in danger.

• It extended moral, political, diplomatic and financial

support to Pakistan.

• However the events of 9/11, the growing US-Pakistan

relations, and wars on Iran’s flanks have had their effect on

the relations between the two states.

Overview

• Iran Centre of Culture (Khana-e-Farhung) was established but

was not fully successful in promoting goodwill.

• Social tensions are likely to continue in both the countries in

future.

• The deepening differences based on ethnicity, language,

religious sectarianism and economic disparities in Pakistan

would have wider results and slow down the performance of the

domestic political system as well as the pursuit of the external

policies.

Pak-Iran Social Relations

• Shia-Suni sectarian clashes, in particular, could have far-

reaching Impact on Iran-Pakistan relationship.

• More importantly, Iran’s

growing relations with India

particularly in defense could

affect Iran-Pakistan relations

in the coming years.

Pak-Iran Social Relations

• Quantum of trade is relatively low.

• Iran exported US$265 million to Pakistan whereas Iran

imported US$92 million from Pakistan during the financial

year 2003-2004.

• The Pak-Iran gas pipeline, also known as the Peace

pipeline, is an under construction pipeline to deliver natural

gas from Iran to Pakistan, thought to be finished in

December 2014.

Pak-Iran Economic Relations

• The principal items of trade between Iran and Pakistan are

textile, agricultural products, fruits and iron ore.

• Iran has also shown keen interest to make investment in

various economic, industrial and mining sectors in

Pakistan.

• An agreement to promote bi-lateral trade was signed by

Governor of Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan Province, Hussain

Amini and his counterpart from Pakistan’s Southwest

Baluchistan province, Owais Ghani.

Pak-Iran Economic Relations Continued

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF

AFGHANISTAN

Socio-economic relations with Afghanistan

• Pakistan shares its longest borderline with Afghanistan in

the north-west, the Durand Line, that of 2250 km.

• Both countries, being Islamic Republics, were expected to

have a somewhat friendly relation.

• However, this prediction was proved wrong right in the

beginning ever since Afghanistan refused to recognize

Pakistan as a sovereign state in 1947.

• Ever since then, Pakistan’s social, economical and political

relations with Afghanistan have been turbulent.

Brief history and background of relations.

Overview

• There is a grave social issue of Afghan refugees

who crossed over legally and illegally when the

USA attacked Afghanistan decade ago.

• Increase in crime rate took place due to this.

• Pakistan also was under economic stress due to

refugee camps.

• Pakistan and Afghanistan have never had a written

socio-cultural agreement promoting friendship

between the two countries.

Social Relations of Pakistan with Afghanistan

Transit Trade Agreement

• The Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement is a

two-sided contract signed first in the 1950s.

• Its terms have been renegotiated several times and the

latest contract was signed in 2010.

• This treaty allows Afghanistan access to the port of Lahore,

and also access to a land route to export goods to India.

Pak-Afghan Economic Relations

• Trade between the two countries has increased from 830.2

million USD in 2006-07 to 2.5 billion USD in 2010-11

due to non commercial goods.

• It declined in the following years.

• Bilaterally formal trade is increasing but informal trade is

higher than formal trade.

Pak-Afghan Economic Relations Continued

• The two states signed a MoU for the construction of rail tracks

in Afghanistan to connect with Pakistan Railways (PR), which

has been in the making

since at least 2005.

• In November 2010,

the two states formed

a joint chamber of

commerce to expand

trade relations and

solve the problems

traders face.

Other Actions Taken to Improve Trade

Pak-Afghan Border

• Another trade issue is the smuggling of goods, usually

across the turbulent area of Torkhem.

• It is thought that this illegal trade makes up more GDP

then the legal trade between the two countries.

• All kinds of goods, even vehicles, are transported illegally

in containers across the border through Torkhem.

• Government officials have been thought to be involved in

this scandal.

• It is still on-going with no solution visible.

Issue of Smuggling

CONCLUSION

Brief summary of topic

• Pakistan has a fierce independent foreign policy,

especially when it comes to issues such as development of

nuclear weapons, construction of nuclear reactors, foreign

military purchases and other issues that are vital to its

national interests.

• The relations of Pakistan with India are always under theblack clouds, both the countries do take steps towards thebetterment like Aman ki Asha but still there is a greathurdle between the two countries.

• Iran has been a respected, popular, and favorable nationamong Pakistanis, with 76% of Pakistanis haveconsistently view their western neighbor positively,making Pakistan the most pro-Iran nation in the world.

Conclusion of Topic

• China is the only country with Pakistan has friendly relations as

Pakistan was the first one to recognize them as a new state. Pak-

china friendship is going towards betterment day by day.

• Relations with Afghanistan has always been critical, although

Pakistan being the most supportive state for Afghanistan but still

there are a number of things which cause trouble.

• Pakistan is doing its best to strive for a strong yet friendly foreign

policy to promote goodwill but also remove threats from its

neighbors.

Conclusion Continued