July 05, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 19, 1428

ISLAMABAD, July 4: Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Patyabrata Pal said on Wednesday bilateral trade with Pakistan was expected to cross the $1.5 billion mark during the fiscal year 2006-07.

He stated this while speaking at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) at the chamber house. The meeting was attended by a large number of traders from the federal capital.

The high commissioner said that the Indian economy was growing fast and bilateral trade had increased and was likely to cross $1.5 billion. He said that the Indian exports to Pakistan in previous months stood at $980.33 million, while imports were $247.48 million.

He mentioned that in last year India increased its tea exports to Pakistan from 7.5 million tons to 10.5 million tons. He said that both governments should keep up the level of confidence building measures and hoped that in future Indo-Pak relations will improve further.

The ICCI President Nasir Khan underlined the importance of exchange of trade delegations. He said that trade between the two countries was insufficient as per the existing potential.

He added that with the exchange of cultural, educational, political and economic delegations, the relations between the two countries would be strengthened. He said that India could import cement, marble, sports and surgical equipments, fruit, vegetable and salt from Pakistan. He hoped that with the gas pipeline project, Indo-Pak relations would improve further.