LAHORE: A 25-member Pakistani delegation will leave for India on Wednesday to attend the 4th meeting of India-Pakistan Joint Forum (IPJF) scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Aug 7-8.

Syed Yawar Ali Shah, co-chairman of the IPJF from Pakistan side, will lead the delegation which includes HBL President Noman Dar, member banking and finance of the forum; Noor Mohammad Kasuri, member petroleum and gas sector; Gul Ahmed Textile Chairman Bashir Ali Mohammad, member textile; Descon Chairman Abdur Razzaq Dawood, member engineering sector and Sikandar Mustafa, chairman of Millat Group of Companies.

IPJF co-chairman Sunil Kant Munjal and its members and officials from the ministries of commerce and external affairs will represent India at the meeting.

The forum will discuss ways of further improving and increasing trade between the two countries. Implementation on recommendations of task forces, removal of non-tariff barriers and visa-related issues will also come under discussion.

The IPJF was constituted by Pakistan and India in 2013 by including members from private and public sectors of the two countries with a view to taking practical steps for advancing their trade relations.

The first meeting of the forum was held in Islamabad in June last year, the second in October in New Delhi and the 3rd in February this year in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2014