In the backdrop of government’s fresh decision of granting MFN status to India, Pakistan has decided to ask India to lift tariff and non-tariff barriers.
According to a senior official, after lifting tariff and non-tariff barriers form Indian side that exist on its exports of different products including cement and textile only then Pakistan would allow imports of Indian goods nearly 2,000 included in its positive list relating to India.
Trade talks between Pakistan and India kicked off for the implementation of the trade decisions earlier taken by the prime ministers of both countries on the sideline of the SAARIC summit.
The visit followed the Pakistani cabinet’s decision on November 2 to grant MFN status to India, reciprocating a move taken by New Delhi in 1996. “The cabinet gave its full approval and also mandated the commerce ministry to achieve complete normalization of trade” with India, Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood told the meeting in New Delhi.
Pakistan’s Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood is leading Pakistan’s delegation, while the Indian delegation is headed by Rahul Khullar.
Sources said that Pakistan delegation members visiting Goa has been dropped from their itinerary.
Sources further said that it has been decided to start the New Delhi trade talks from the same position where it had been left after the secretary-level talks between the two countries held on April27-28, 2011 in Islamabad.
A senior official of the ministry of commerce said that Pakistan and India talks in New Delhi would be on the basis of equality.
