The Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma today said that India and Pakistan need to continue moving forward towards a non-discriminatory trade regime. In a meeting with the members of the Pakistan Business Council in New Delhi, Mr. Sharma said that Pakistan government has taken some steps to move towards full normalisation of trade relations with New Delhi by making the transition from a positive list to a negative list for imports from India.

He said this process must be taken to its logical end by phasing out the negative list and eventually according Most Favoured Nation status to India.

Expressing satisfaction over the trade normalisation between the two countries, the Minister informed that a modern Integrated Check Post has been set up by India at Attari, Amritsar border for trade facilitation. He said it will be beneficial to the business communities of both sides if Pakistan allows all items not in the negative list to be traded across the land border at Attari-Wagah.

Mr. Shrama said the new Visa Agreement between the two countries will liberalise the bilateral visa regime and introduce a number of measures aimed at easing travel, including travel for business purposes.