PakistanIndiaFlagsRE-670
The image shows the national flags of India and Pakistan. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: The two-day secretary level talks over trade between India and Pakistan began here on Thursday, DawnNews reported.

Commerce Secretary Muneer Qureshi was holding talks with his Indian counterpart S R Rao.

The high-level 19-member Indian delegation led by the Indian commerce secretary had arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for two-day talks with Secretary Qureshi.

Pakistan and India were expected to formally sign three crucial agreements today to give a fillip to economic activity between the two countries as they move ahead with the trade liberalisation process adopted a few months ago.

“We have finalised these agreements related to customs cooperation, mutual recognition of required standards and the mechanism to address grievances for boosting the trade between the two countries”, Qureshi had told Dawn on Wednesday.

Both countries had already vetted the draft agreements from their respective cabinets for signing.

Pakistan had already flung open the doors for trade with India by raising the number of items that can be imported from that country from 1,946 to almost 5,600 since March 1, 2012.

To reciprocate this major shift in Pakistan’s policy towards India, the Indian government had last month lifted its ban on foreign investment from Pakistan to create goodwill for further deepening the liberalisation process between the two countries.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.