Pak to provide transit trade facilities to India

Islamabad, Jan 31: Pakistan today expressed willingness to provide transit facilities to India for trade with Afghanistan.

''India can trade with Afghanistan through Karachi port,'' foreign office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam told a press briefing.

She maintained that India was welcome to avail this facility like other countries, adding that the transit trade facility for Afghanistan has been given because it is a land-locked country.

''Grant of this facility to India has economic and political implications,'' she said and added Pakistan would have to prepare its public opinion before taking such a step.

She, however, linked mobilising the public opinion with 'positive movement' in the resolution of disputes between the two countries.

India has been constantly demanding of Pakistan to allow its goods to reach Afghanistan and markets in Central Asian Republics via land route. Since economies of CARs are on the rise, they also need to have good trade links with the South Asian countries.

Pakistani economists believe that the transit facility to India and other countries can become a major source of income for the country if it is properly channeled.

UNI