Pak wants level-playing field for promoting, strengthening trade ties with India

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, said Friday that his country and government want to trade with India on equal terms.

"Pakistan wants a level-playing field for promoting and further strengthening trade ties with India. There is need to address concerns relating to market access, tariff and non-tariff barriers. At the same time, innovative proposals and ideas may also be explored which can help create economic inter-dependence between the two countries. Mutual economic dependence will boost confidence amongst the business communities and make economic cooperation sustainable," said Basit at the fourth meeting of the Pakistan-India Joint Business Forum (PIJBF) here.

The PIJBF comprising top business leaders of the two countries, 15 from each side, was established in 2013.

Speaking at the plenary meeting of the forum, High Commissioner Basit said that the meeting between the two Prime Ministers in New Delhi on May 27 was very positive, where both leaders agreed to move forward from confrontation to cooperation.

He said we should seize this rare opportunity and leave a legacy of friendship and cooperation for our future generations.

Talking about a meeting between the foreign secretaries of two countries scheduled for August 25 in Islamabad, the High Commissioner said Pakistan was looking forward to a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue process.

Earlier, Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal and Syed Yawar Ali, Co-Chairmen of the Forum welcomed the participants at the start of the meeting.

The task forces on textiles, agriculture, auto-engineering, banking and finance, energy, SMEs and connectivity and visa facilitation, which met separately, yesterday, presented their respective reports and recommendations for consideration of the forum.

The fifth meeting of the committee will take place in Lahore later this year.