"The vision of our government is that we must trade with our neighbours, including India, despite border tensions," Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir said, addressing a consultative trade meeting yesterday.
"The government is committed to increase regional trade as part of promoting peace without compromising on national sovereignty," The Dawn quoted the commerce minister as saying.
He said that Pakistan would have to trade in energy for import of electricity from India to overcome power crisis.
Minister for Privatisation Mohammad Zubair also supported the notion of opening of border for trade with India, saying "Pakistan should trade with India for better standard of living of its own people."
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"If we want to develop, we should contribute. It is not about India's domination on us, we absolutely want good relations with India," the minister said at the meeting themed 'Trade with Neighbours: Prospects and Challenges', organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
"No country in the world can improve its relations without going into business," he said.
Dastagir said that Pakistan has given extraordinary concessions to neighbours for trade facilitation.
"We have been trying to finalise our projects with Iran as well," the minister said, adding that due to international pressure, his government is facing difficulties according to modes of international payments.
Pakistan is already purchasing electricity at Gwadar Port from Iran.
"The direction of this government is to encourage investment. A new change will be noticed if Gwadar Port is linked with the North," he said.
Pakistan, he said, was also planning to develop trading land ports at the three neighbouring junction points - Wagha, Torkham and Chaman - as gateways to regional trade.