LAHORE, Dec 1: Federal Industries, Production and Special Incentives Minister Jehangir Khan Tareen has said business relations with India will be settled on equal terms. Speaking at a meeting held at the head office of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority here on Thursday to finalize the programme for his visit to Karachi, Bahawalpur and Multan to hold meetings on pilot projects for ‘Aik Hunar Aik Nagar (AHAN) Programme,’ the minister said no initiative contrary to the long-term national interests would be taken for trade with India.

The minister discussed the details of the programme on the advice of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz with Smeda Chief Executive Officer Shahab Khwaja, Business Development Services General-Manager Sultan Tiwana, General Manager (Operations) Syed Iqbal Anwar Kidwai, Central Support Wing Manager Anjum Ahmed and AHAN programme team leader Sheheryar Tahir at the Smeda office.

The minister also approved a schedule of urgent meetings to finalize recommendations of the design cells for textile, silverware and blue pottery. The first meeting will be held at Bahawalpur on Dec 13 on silverware, the second at Karachi on Dec 15 on textile items and the third at Multan on Dec 22 on blue pottery.

The minister was informed that the Asian Development Bank had assured to finance the AHAN project. Smeda Chief Shahab Khwaja will leave for Manila next week to finalize the agreement on funding arrangements. Necessary expenditure was being met from Smeda budget. A cell, comprising two managers, had also been set up to monitor the project.

He also reviewed a Smeda plan for revival of SMEs in earthquake-affected areas and advised setting up of offices at Muzaffarabad and Mansehra for its implementation.