India-Pak vetting expansion of trade list: Pak commerce ministry

New Delhi, Jan 17: India and

are examining the possibility of expanding the list of items traded through the Wagah border. "To address logistics related issues in promoting economic ties between India and Pakistan,

secretaries of both the countries are examining all possibilities for expanding the list of items traded currently through Wagah Border," Pakistan Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan said at an Assocham conference.

Khan described visa restrictions and derailment of the on-going dialogue process between the two countries as "the biggest hurdles in implementation of the South Asian Free Trade Agreement". "Except the textiles sector, Pakistan has big interest in most of the sectors in India," he said.

He also laid stress on the need to diminish trade barriers. "Customs at both sides should act towards pro-trade and message should go to them from their governments in this direction and it is also imperative to reduce trade barriers," he said. Earlier today, India's Commerce Secretary S R Rao said there is a need to enhance trade through land route, particularly between India and Pakistan.

PTI