ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan said on Monday that talks with India on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status have been postponed till the completion of general elections and formulation of a new government in New Delhi.

Responding to a supplementary question asked during the Question Hour in the National Assembly, the minister said that the prime minister during his recent visit to the Hague had made it clear that Pakistan was open to offer non-discriminatory market access to India on a reciprocal basis. However, it would be worked out with new Indian government.

Indian general elections starting from April 7 will conclude on May 12.

Constitutionally, the five-year term of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will expire on May 31 when Lok Sabha will complete its tenure.

Mr Khan reiterated his government’s stance that trade with India on level-playing field was beneficial for the country.

Talking to Dawn, a member of the PML-N cabinet said normalisation of trade ties with India was government’s top priority.

He said that the government made record hectic efforts for trade liberalisation. However, the process got prolonged for multiple reasons, including the cancellation of visit of Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma who was due to visit Pakistan in the middle of February.

He said that during his interaction with media persons Khurram Dastagir Khan dropped clear hints of government’s decision to go ahead with the announcement of trade liberalisation with India which in local parlance called for awarding MFN status to Delhi.

There were even reports of convening a special cabinet meeting in the third-week of March. However, the meeting couldn’t be held because lack of consensus within the party over the issue.