KARACHI, Aug 16: The success of trade ties between Pakistan and India depends upon the outcomes of the political dialogue which is going smooth at present, Export Promotion Bureau chairman Tariq Ikram has said.

He was talking to reporters during a seminar on "WTO agreements and their implications for Pakistan" organized by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Monday.

"The trade issues will go along the political issues during the Pakistan-India talks," he said, hoping that the outcome would be positive for the two sides. "India has to give us concessions and both the countries have to remove non-tariff barriers. Still there are too many conditions to be taken care of," he said.

When asked if Pakistan was bound to give India the Most-Favoured Nation status, Mr Ikram said there was no binding under the WTO. However, he said that Pakistan wanted to increase its trade ties with India.

About WTO impact on Pakistan with regard to China, the EPB chairman said the situation was in favour of Pakistan and in the long-run when the subsidies and concessions to agriculture would be eliminated in China, the chances of Pakistani agricultural products to penetrate in the Chinese market would rise. -APP