Indo-Pak trade talks resume

Apr 28, 2011 |

Correspondent

Islamabad

April 27: The commerce secretaries from Pakistan and India on Wednesday resumed trade talks here after a gap of two years. The talks were stalled since the Mumbai terrorist attacks that India blamed on Pakistani elements. Trade talks are part of a 7-year-old peace process the two sides agreed to resume in February. The Pakistani commerce secretary, Mr Zafar Mehmood and the Indian commerce secretary, Mr Rahul Khullar, led delegations in the two-day talks. Presently, the balance of bilateral trade is heavily tilted in favour of India.

During the two-day talks, a number of issues will be taken up for furthering commercial ties including the issue of the Indian obstruction to Pakistani exports. On Wednesday Pakistan pressed for an end to the Indian opposition to the EU package which will be taken up for consideration early next month at the WTO. Sources said that Pakistan offered to consider more items of Indian interest in the positive trade list. Pakistan unilaterally expanded the positive list in February, setting the stage for full resumption of trade talks. The items on the positive list, 1,946 goods, can be traded between the two countries. The commerce secretary, Mr Zafar Mehmood, before the talks said Pakistan will participate in the talks with an open heart and will make utmost effort to make the dialogue meaningful.

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