LAHORE, July 9: The delegation of Pakistani traders currently visiting India to promote bilateral trade between the two countries on Wednesday held a series of one-on-one meetings with their Indian counterparts for trade prospects.

Chief Spokesman and former president, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Iftikahr Ali Malik, who accompanied the delegation told APP by telephone from New Delhi that Pakistan delegation after having successful interaction with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Tuesday night on Wednesday held detailed meetings with Indian importers, exporters and traders and discussed the ways and means to strengthen trade ties.

He said that private sectors of both sides expressed the desire to expand the flow of trade between the two countries. He said that the impact of WTO regime and its economic repercussions in future were also discussed.

He said that President, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Dr. AC Muthiah and leader of Pakistani delegation Senator Ilyas Bilour, Chairman Pakistan-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry also exchanged views on wide ranging issues related to trade between the two countries.

Iftikhar Ali Malik said that prominent traders from either side, Mahmood Ahmad, Maqsood Ismail, Sudhir Jalan and Jairam Rameesh participated in the penal discussions on Trade Policy and Normalisation while Editor-in-Chief, Asian Age, M.J.Akbar acted as moderator in third session on Trade Infrastructure and Logistic (Transportation and Banking Links).

Iftikhar said, “Pakistani traders urged their counterparts to influence their spheres in the political leadership to work out a strategy through parleys for peaceful solution to all core issues.”—APP