New Delhi: In a historic visit to boost Indo-Pak trade ties, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma is leading a delegation of over 100 business leaders to Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. He is also likely to meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during the four-day visit. The two sides will discuss ways of normalising trade relations, easing visa rules, assessing the progress of a dedicated trade gate at Wagah and the grant of the most favoured nation status to India.
Mr Sharma left for Pakistan yesterday amid high expectations that the neighbouring nation will announce the first major step to normalise trade with New Delhi and eventually grant the much-awaited MFN status to India by the year-end.
At present, Islamabad allows only 1,946 items of imports from India, whereas New Delhi permits import from Pakistan of all, but a few items in the Indian NL.
When asked whether he is confident that Pakistan will announced NL during the visit, he replied, "This is the understanding which has been given to us when the Pakistani Commerce Secretary came again in November."
"Both the government's have talked. The drafts have been exchanged. We are in favour of an early conclusion of singing of an agreement for a multiple entry visa regime to facilitate the movement of business leaders of India and Pakistan as part of the process of normalisation," he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
Mr Sharma left for Pakistan yesterday amid high expectations that the neighbouring nation will announce the first major step to normalise trade with New Delhi and eventually grant the much-awaited MFN status to India by the year-end.
At present, Islamabad allows only 1,946 items of imports from India, whereas New Delhi permits import from Pakistan of all, but a few items in the Indian NL.
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When asked whether he is confident that Pakistan will announced NL during the visit, he replied, "This is the understanding which has been given to us when the Pakistani Commerce Secretary came again in November."
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"Both the government's have talked. The drafts have been exchanged. We are in favour of an early conclusion of singing of an agreement for a multiple entry visa regime to facilitate the movement of business leaders of India and Pakistan as part of the process of normalisation," he added.
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(With inputs from PTI)
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