Pakistan today made a strong case for relaxing visa regime, improving mobile connectivity and according non-discriminatory market access to boost trade and business ties with India.
"Barriers to bilateral trade must be removed. Besides, tariff...Lack of adequate connectivity and transportation; issues of standards; customs harmonisation, communications, visa facilitation, payment mechanisms, dispute resolution among others are needed to be addressed," Pakistan Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan said.
In his address at a CII function, he said it is important to relax visa regime to facilitate movement of business travellers.
On the contentious issue of Pakistan according the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, Khan said that "regarding the 'M' word, let us just say that we have shifted it one letter down to 'N' and now we are discussing 'Non-Discriminatory Access'.
"The idea of course is (that) instead of getting caught or rather stranded in nomenclature, we should work sincerely towards proving substantial market access to each other whatever nomenclature we use," he said.
Referring to the issue of mobile connectivity and banking issues, Khan said: "Both the countries should have these kinds of connectivities, which facilitate trade and investment."
Khan, who is leading a delegation of 70 businessmen, said that efforts were on to enhance two-way trade through the Wagha border.
"An enhancement of trade through Wagha is under active negotiation at this moment. We are hoping to have a positive (outcome) on that," he added.
