Amidst improving trade relations, commerce secretaries of Pakistan and India are expected to meet soon, according to India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal. However, he would not say when the meeting would take place.
The two commerce secretaries were due in May – but the meeting was delayed after Islamabad pressed New Delhi for more trade concessions. It is likely that the meeting would take place next month, though no schedule has been officially announced.
In an interaction with journalists at an Iftar dinner hosted by the Indian envoy, Sabharwal said his country has allowed foreign direct investment (FDI) from Pakistan, while a new gate has been opened at Wagah border crossing point to facilitate bilateral trade.
The two countries, he said, have already taken a number of measures in liberalising visa issuance. He hoped Pakistan will soon be giving India the most-favoured nation (MFN) status.
The Indian foreign minister is due to visit Pakistan in September, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan, according to Sabharwal.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2012.
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@shahid: Remove the hurdles make it easy to trade let the businessman make his profit but at the end of the day make sure that the CONSUMER on both sides benefits because it is the CONSUMER in both countries that must become the lobby for more trade.
India needs to take more initiatives to encourage Pakistan to reciprocate since India is in a stronger position and it will create more goodwill for india. Also pl.make visa procedure simple for both countries.
" Islamabad pressed New Delhi for more trade concessions"
Once a begger, always a begger!
@Hasan Mehmood: Yes like it between India and China lot of trade some hot air sometimes but no one rocks the trade boat.
@jagjit sidhoo: Once there are sufficient economic / trade interlinkages there will be few takers of hate lobbies on both sides. Of course we can keep up the verbal rhetoric for appearances sake and to pacify local constitutioncy, but there will be no serious flare up.
Interact more fight less
This is the eighth thaw in the last six months. Anything meaningful and practical come out of it yet? MFN is in limbo, FDI is questionable and liberalized visa regime is yet to be implemented. Nothing significantly more than the talk about more talks.