Pakistani business delegation for boosting trade with India

NEW DELHI - Even as ties between India and Pakistan remain frosty and dialogue suspended in the wake of the Mumbai carnage nearly two years ago, a 12-member Pakistani trade delegation Wednesday urged New Delhi to remove barriers to spur greater trade between the two countries.

The visiting delegation, led by Sultan Ahmed Chawla, president, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), interacted with top Indian businessmen and pressed for escalating bilateral trade between the two countries.

The delegation called on Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma Tuesday. The delegation informed Sharma of the existing lacunae in the two-way trade and suggested some measures for improvement, said a statement from the Pakistan high commission Wednesday.

The minister assured the delegation of removing the impediments in the smooth running of trade activity between the two countries and expressed the hope that the bilateral trade will substantially increase in the years to come, said the high commission.

The delegation pointed out that trade between India and Pakistan could be balanced if the tariff and non-tariff barriers are removed by the Indian side.

They also met Pakistan’s High Commissioner Shahid Malik Tuesday.

This is the first visit by a Pakistani business delegation since the July 15 talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries broke down over a host of issues, including terrorism and Kashmir.