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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Pakistan, India Commerce Secretaries talks April 27-28 in Islamabad

Islamabad : Commerce Secretaries of Pakistan and India will hold talks on April 27-28 in Islamabad on trade related issues including ways to improve infrastructure facilities on both sides ofWagah border to facilitate business community of both countries.

Indian Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar will arrive here on April 26 with six-member delegation for talks with his Pakistani counterpart Zafar Mehmood to give impetus to economic engagement between two countries. It will be second high-level officials interaction between two countries after resumption of dialogue on all bilateral issues. Home Secretaries of both countries met last month in New Delhi.
Sources Wednesday said export of cement to India and import of cotton by Pakistan will also be discussed in talks as well as trade infrastructure along Wagah border.

Pakistan will seek relaxation on cotton export as India started re-evaluating contracts from Pakistanibuyers, which they signed with Indian exporters till October 2010. All contracts till October 2010 be fulfilled on old agreed prices and future ones signed at prices in world market. Import of about one million Indian cotton bales has been halted and will also be discussed by Commerce Secretaries.

Sources said Pakistan will also take up enhancing time period of cement inspection by Indian quality control authorities from one to three years. Indian officials usually visit Pakistan cement units oncea year. This year it was delayed by six months that created problems in cement export to India. PPI