India said that it is ready to prepare a roadmap with Pakistan for preferential trading agreements under the South Asian Preferential Trading Agreement, SAFTA process. In his opening remarks at the sixth round of talks with his Pakistani counterpart Zafar Mahmood, Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said in New Delhi yesterday that the ongoing talks will achieve a clarity on such arrangements and hoped they will be in place at the earliest.

Mr. Khullar said that the two countries have reached a broader agreement on granting reciprocal visas which will liberalise visa provisions for businessmen. Welcoming the decision of Islamabad to grant MFN status to New Delhi, India expressed confidence that this round of talks will produce meaningful and significant results for growing bilateral, economic engagement.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood said that the two sides are keen to take forward the dialogue process as it is the beginning of the second round of the composite dialogue. The two-day talks between India and Pakistan began in New Delhi yesterday.