Indian duplicity over MFN status to Pakistan

The Most Favorite Nation (MFN) status given to Pakistan by India remains only on paper, as they have done very little to enhance bilateral trade. The Non-Tariff Barriers or hidden barriers remain to be the biggest hurdle enhancing bilateral trade volumes between the two neighbouring countries.
This was said by Zafar Mehmood, Secretary Commerce, while addressing a one day workshop on Indo-Pak trade relations, prospects and challenges, which was jointly organized by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and India-Pakistan Chamber of commerce, held here at a local hotel on Monday.
He said, Pakistani traders and exporters are facing visa issues in India while the Indian exporters were also under certain confusion and reservations after the Mumbai attacks, however, following the start of foreign/commerce secretary level talks, things have been improving and positive results from the negotiations are expected.
He further said that, after resuming talks at various levels, the interaction, cooperation in different sectors including agricultural and petroleum industry are taking place between the two countries. IT sector is also expected to be under discussion in future talks. A working group has also been formed to examine the possibilities of the import of electricity from India, he added.
Besides, a summary related to an agreement between the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and its counterpart in India, has also been forwarded to the cabinet for approval, he added. Addressing the day long seminar, Chief Executive, TDAP Tariq Puri, said that India could be a potential market for Pakistani goods and to introduce the country’s products, the authority has planned to participate in various international exhibitions in India. TDAP would play a pivotal role to enhance the exports of Pakistan to the neighboring country.
He invited Indian traders to the forth coming Expo Pakistan 2011 to be held in October in Karachi.
Dr Isharat Hussain, former Governor State Bank, said that if China, despite a territorial dispute with India, can build trade relations with Delhi, why Pakistan can not do so while keeping the Kashmir issue alive.
President FPCCI, senator Haji Ghulam Ali, said that the neighboring countries should realize that the poverty hit people on both sides would benefit from strong trade relations. He hoped that bilateral trade between the two countries could jump to $ 6.5 billion during the next few years.
He also said that FPCCI has already requested its Indian counterpart to convince the Indian government for not opposing the European Union trade concession to Pakistan in WTO. Tariq Saeed, member FPCCI said that to enhance the bilateral trade, besides the air/naval service borders at khokhrapar, Monabow other borders should also be open for traders.
The seminar was also addressed and attended by various prominent traders and experts from government and private sectors.