The Hindu : Karachi, Chennai rotary clubs sign friendship agreement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Karachi, Chennai rotary clubs sign friendship agreement

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 30. After the bus, rail and air corridor diplomacy and cricket matches, an NGO-level friendship treaty was signed with Pakistan today. Aziz Memon, president, Rotary Club of Karachi, signed a ``friendship agreement'' with D. Sudhakara Reddy, president of the Rotary Club of Madras, paving the way for ``strengthening the friendly ties'' between the countries.

Mr. Memon was part of an eight-member Rotarian delegation along with four Annes, ``currently on a mission to promote friendly ties between India and Pakistan, covering Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore cities.''

``We hope to work together in various spheres of business activity, apart from extending a helping hand in projects to instal handpumps in Chennai to cater for the most water-starved places as we have done in Karachi. Likewise, Rotarians from here have expressed their willingness to start a school project targeting underprivileged children of Karachi'', Mr.Memon said, as he and his delegation from Pakistan's second oldest club were given a standing ovation.

He appealed to the Indian and Pakistani Governments to provide a ``hassle-free access'' for visitors to Pakistan. He wanted five-year, multiple entry visas issued for Indian business fraternity. ``We see a lot of business opportunities and we could do things together. We have wasted 50 years and our politicians should be made to understand that the people of the subcontinent are peace-loving and want more business development,'' Mr.Memon said. Industrialists of both countries should prepare joint strategies to create a niche for themselves in the global business scenario.

He suggested that a student exchange programme be launched to ``understand the local issues, the traditional culture and the glorious history of both the countries''.

Mr. Memon invited members of the Rotary Club of Madras to the Rotary District Conference of 3270 to be held in Karachi between April 23 and 25.

Mr.Reddy, who is also the National President of the Air Passengers' Association of India, described the friendship agreement as a step forward in the recent confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan.

Thomas Philip, Director-International Service; and Viji Joseph, secretary, said similar friendship agreements were signed with the Rotary Clubs of Colombo, Seramban in Malaysia, Fareham Meon in the United Kingdom, East Fresno, California, United States, and Whitby in Canada.

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