Pakistan will phase out major restrictions on Indian imports by the end of this year, said Federal Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday. Firdous Ashiq Awan said Islamabad would gradually scrap the negative list which banned export of hundreds of items from India.“Normalising trade ties with India is in the interest of Pakistan as it will not only help strengthen the national economy but also boost economic activities in the region,” she claimed.
The government has decided in principle to phase out the negative list between the two countries by December 31, 2012, which will complete the trade normalisation process”, she said. Deepening economic engagement between the two countries which have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947 is seen as crucial to establishing lasting peace in the troubled South Asian region.
Trade with India to be normalised by year end: Firdous
