Chidambaram favours trade, commerce with Pakistan

Attari (Punjab), Feb.20 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday said that despite India not being given Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status by Pakistan as a reciprocal gesture, India doesn't intend to bring trade and commerce to come to an end.

Speaking after the laying the foundation stone of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border here on Saturday Chidambaram said: "We have not got a MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status that is a fact and that's a complaint we make, it is a fact of life but because we do not have the MFN status that doesn't not mean that all trade and commerce should come to an end. We will continue the demand for the MFN status but we will also continue to encourage trade and commerce".

To give boost to the trade between the two countries India has given MFN status to Pakistan in 1998 but Pakistan is still reluctant to reciprocate with the same gesture.

Besides not giving MFN status to India recently Pakistan also imposed high import taxes on the perishable commodities that have been exporting from India to Pakistan.

That resulted in a sudden fall of the export of tomato, onion, ginger and other commodities from Attari - Wagah land route from India.

Speaking about the recent rocket attacks in border villages near Attari, Chidambaram said, "Pakistan doesn't admit that its forces fired the rocket. But we know they came from that direction".

Union Home Minister Chidambaram along with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal laid foundation stone of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border.

It aims at improving trade link between India and Pakistan.

The project, envisaged to boost the trade and commerce between India and Pakistan, is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 150 crores to be developed on 130 acres of land acquired by the unjab Government. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)