LAHORE: Even though the composite dialogue between India Pakistan is suspended, trade talks are continuing and will continue in order to increase commercial exchanges between the two countries. Problems about land trade through Wagah and nondiscriminatory market access will be eliminated gradually.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan while talking to Customs Today after the inauguration of India show.
“Foreign ministries of both the countries should work together to deescalate tension between the two countries,” the minister said. Addressing the inaugural session of the 2nd India Show at Expo Centre, the minister said that Pakistan should have friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries and promote trade with them. The minister said that trade was a force which would help find new avenues of prosperity between the two countries.
“Visa restrictions are the biggest non-tariff barriers. However, these barriers will be considerably brought down. Cultural and academia exchanges are very important and sharing experiences of each other’s training institutions is also significant,” he added. He said that there was a great opportunity to grow if both countries normalised their relations.
The minister said a sense of confidence was needed for improved trade between both countries.
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President Dr Jyotsna Suri said that vibrant cooperation between Pakistan and India would result in better growth in both countries.
She said that Pakistan had great potential to attract tourists and huge foreign exchange. Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Sohail Lashari said that trade relations between Pakistan and India should grow in a harmonized way. He said that both countries should work hard to boost their economic relations.
Indian Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Arvind Mehta, Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan TCA Raghavan, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Vikramjit Singh Sahney, SAARC CCI Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Secretary Rabia Javeri Agha also spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile, FICCI SVP Dr Jyotsna Suri presented an FICCI status paper on India-Pakistan economic relations to Federal Minister Khurram Dastgir.
