Wednesday, 27 April 2011
pak_india_400ISLAMABAD: Secretary Commerce Zafar Mehmood said on Wednesday that private sectors of Pakistan and India would be facilitated for the benefit of the people of two countries and their economic prosperity. "Private sector is an engine of economic growth and to facilitate this sector we are talking to boost trade relations through private sector and we want to provide such policy framework for trade facilitation between the two private sectors", he told journalists after participating the 5th round of trade talks between two countries.
Zafar Mahmood said that talks are moving forward in a positive and friendly atmosphere without any hesitation.
He said that the issue of removal of non-tariff barriers between the two countries also came under discussion in the 5th round of Pakistan-India Commerce secretaries level talks.
Talking about the volume of bilateral trade between both the countries, the Commerce Secretary said that the current figures of Pakistan's export and import with India stood at US $ 300 million and $ 1.3 billion respectively.
Commerce Secretaries of Pakistan and India met here formally Wednesday to start their 5th round of talks to further trade and economic relations through composite dialogue process.
Pakistani side is being lead by Secretary Commerce Zafar Mehmood while the Indian Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar is heading his team.
Pakistani High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik and Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Sharat Sbharval are also participating in the talks.
Indian Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar, along with a six-member delegation, arrived here on April 26 to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart on trade related issues.
In his opening remarks, Secretary Commerce Zafar Mehmood welcomed the Indian delegation and said that both sides are open for talks on issues of mutual interests.
He added that during 2004-7 four round of talks were held between the two countries under the composite dialogue process but for various reasons these could not be held but this initiative has now been restarted under the process.
He expressed the hope that this 5th round of talks between the two countries would help boost trade and economic relations leading to peace in the region.
"We are determined to making the 5th round of talks successful and fruitful", Zafar Mehmood remarked.
In his remarks, the visiting Indian Commerce Secretary thanked Pakistan government for their hospitality extended to his delegation.
"We are here for talks to further boost our mutual trade and economic relations", he remarked.
"Pakistan and India, can resolve their issues through process of dialogue and we are here with this spirit", he added.
