Dastgir hopes agreement to improve trade ties with India this year

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ISLAMABAD-

The Federal Minister for Commerce, Engr. Khurram Dastgir, has said that dialogue has been almost successful regarding removal of taxation and other hurdles in the way of trade with India and agreement can be reached in this regard this year.

Talking to a private news channel, Khurram Dastgir said that this month the meeting of South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is going to be held in Bhutan and it is possible that I would meet with my Indian counterpart.

In this meeting he would stress for liberalization of visa regime for Pakistani businessmen and on the establishment of banking system between India and Pakistan, he said.

“If composite dialogue between the two countries starts this year then dialogue on commerce could be completed very easily”, he hoped.

He said that India would be allowed to easily access Pakistani markets without any discrimination.

He added since 2012, 80 percent commodities are being imported from India.

Trade volume between the two countries within two years can be doubled as a result of agreement on trade, he said. Pakistan would like that India should decrease the duty on the export of cotton products of Pakistan, he added.