ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that it should be ensured that all concessions offered to imports from India are on a reciprocal basis with equal market access and level playing field for Pakistan’s exports to India.
He said this while chairing a meeting held at the finance ministry. The purpose of the meeting was examining trade with India. Commerce Secretary Qasim Niaz briefed the committee on the matters relating to normalisation of trade relations with the neighbouring country, the prospects of benefits in export of textile and manufactured goods and on the broader framework of the roadmap to move ahead on non-discriminatory market access for Pakistan’s exports.
Ishaq Dar was informed that all stakeholders have been taken into confidence and concerns of our industry will be addressed in the process. Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan briefed the committee on the progress made on addressing Pakistan’s genuine concerns during his last visit to India.
The finance minister stressed that the concerns of our industry should be taken care in the future arrangement. Dar added that import from India should substitute Pakistan’s import from other countries which will save valuable foreign exchange.
The committee will present its detailed report to the Cabinet for consideration.
Special Adviser to Prime Minsiter on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatmi, FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa, former commerce secretary Zafar Mehmood , Nestle Pakistan Chairman Syed Yawar Ali, Adviser to Finance Ministry Rana Asad Amin and senior officials of the ministries concerned also attended the meeting.
