Federal finance minister Ishaq Dar (2nd L) and Federal minister for commerce and textile Khurram Dastagir Khan (L) in a meeting on trade with India. PHOTO: PID
Held at the finance ministry, commerce secretary Qasim Muhammad Niaz briefed the committee on examining trade with India on the pros and cons of normalisation of trade relations with Pakistan’s eastern neighbours, the benefits that will accrue 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.
Dar chaired the meeting which 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 said that it should be ensured that all the concessions are on reciprocal basis and concerns of our industry should be taken care in the future arrangement.
Dar added that import from India should substitute our import from other countries which will save valuable foreign exchange.
The minister emphasised that there should be meaningful market access and level playing field for Pakistan’s exports to India.
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 concerned ministries also attended the meeting.
COMMENTS (4)
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India has those barriers for all countries. WTO says you cannot lower them for select countries. Thats favoritism.
That means India should lower those barriers for Pakistan.
In what world Pakistan has become so important that India will bring down trade barriers for all the countries of the world and expose its protected industries and poor traders?
But, Pakistan has no qualms in offering Sabse Pasandeeda Mulk status to China, who has been accused of, forget trade barriers, but currency tampering!
China has artificially kept the rate of its currency lower to increase exports. Yet, its the Most Favored Nation for Pakistan.
Why hide behind these silly reasoning?
This NDMA is a latest in the series of "My way or highway" approach. How to negociate even from a weak point of view can be seen from Pakistan.
Official figures indicate that New Delhi tops the list with some 12,000 children having gone missing in the capital over the past two years.
Sad Sad!
I fail to understand how pakistan expects india to allow sub-standard Pakistani goods into the country. Any quality related barriers are to protect indian consumers. Pakistan is free to enact its own. To say pakistan requires reciprocity and then not give MFN shows their true intentions and double standards.