15 August 2004	Sunday	28 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: The Indian government has presented a fresh list of proposals seeking concessions in 24 areas to enhance commercial and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Official sources told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the list of proposals was presented by Indian Commerce Secretary Deepak Chaterji to Pakistani government following the conclusion of the two-day talks on trade and commercial cooperation between the two countries held here recently.

According to the proposals, the Indian government has shown its willingness to continue the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan and demanded that Islamabad should reciprocate by according MFN to India.

For trade promotion, Indian government demanded grant of transit facilities to each other's goods on reciprocal basis and the two sides could consider opening of Attari-Wagah land route for trade. It was proposed to promote investment in joint ventures in identified sectors, participate in trade exhibitions, undertake measures to tackle rampant piracy of Indian music and films in Pakistan.

The Indian government also proposed to laying down extension of optical fibre cable from Attari to Lahore, facilitate counterpart arrangement between mobile operators on the two sides, participation of Indian companies in telecom projects in Pakistan and cooperation in the field of information technology, specially IT enabled services, e-commerce, e-governance, IT education, manpower training, holding joint seminars/workshops, IT and electronic hardware, etc.

It was proposed to allow multiple airlines for operations of the scheduled services on a reciprocal basis, allowing the designated carriers of Pakistan seeking to have air connectivity with India seven flights a week to one international airport and then seven more flights to a second international airport on a reciprocal basis.

For cooperation in shipping services, India proposed amendment to the 1974 Protocol on Resumption of Shipping Services between India and Pakistan - deleting article 3, thereby, allowing third country flag ships/vessels to lift India/Pakistan bound cargo and deleting article 5, thereby, allowing flag carriers of both countries to lift cargo for the third country from each other's ports.

It was proposed to supply petroleum products, including diesel, from India to Pakistan and possibility of extending diesel pipeline to Pakistan, exchange of experience and exploitation of commercial opportunities in the CNG sector, participation of Indian companies in exploration and production activities in Pakistan both on shore and offshore.

The Indian government asked for harmonization of customs procedures and valuation and standardization and quality control, cooperation in the capital market, introducing SALMAIL between India and Pakistan, bringing out a joint commemorative stamp, exchange of philatelic exhibitions, explore the possibilities of opening branches of the nationalized banks in each other's country on a reciprocal basis.

It was also proposed to collaborate in post harvest technologies and exchange of information and experts on development of processing units/scientific research, production, marketing and exports, exchange of information and experience in the field of planning, construction, operation and maintenance in water resource sector.