THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)
a) Yes, Madam.
b) A Commerce Secretary level delegation from India visited Pakistan on 20-21 September, 2012 to discuss commercial
and economic cooperation between the two countries.
c) Yes, Madam.
d) For faster clearance of trade consignments, it was inter-alia decided that Land Custom Station at Attari-Wagah
would operate seven days a week. Issues of non-tariff barriers such as delay in custom clearances, non-availability of
railway wagons for cargo transport, absence of direct airflights, were also discussed. Both sides also discussed the need
for expansion of tradable goods through liberalization of border trade and enhanced preferential trading arrangements through
reduction of the respective SAFTA Sensitive Lists.
e) The agreements on redressal of trade grievances, bilateral cooperation and mutual assistance in customs related
matters were signed during the 7th round of India-Pakistan talks on Commercial and Economic Co-operation held during 20-21
September 2012 at Islamabad.
f) The Commerce Ministers of India and Pakistan along with their official delegations, held a bilateral meeting on
February 15, 2012. It had been agreed that Pakistan will move from a ‘Positive List’ to a small ‘Negative List’ by February
2012. The Negative List of 1209 items has been formally notified by the Government of Pakistan on 20th March, 2012.
It is expected that the complete phasing out of the Negative List before the end of 2012, would complete the transition to
Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for India, by Pakistan.
