2nd gate at Wagah border to be operative by April 30

[Salman]

2nd gate at Wagah border to be operative by April 30

KARACHI: The second gate of Wagah border will be operational by April 30, 2012 to facilitate the land route trade between India and Pakistan. Now the time has come to stop trade between India and Pakistan via third country like Dubai and Singapore. Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said the trade cooperation between Pakistan and India would bring prosperity and growth in the region. He said, “Our target is to move forward fast to achieve the trade target of US $6 billion within three years. The present bilateral trade is $2.7 billion per annum with major export surplus in favour of India.” Both countries have decided to resolve their bilateral issues through dialogue including disputes over Kashmir and water. Federal Adviser on Textile Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig welcomed Sharma’s visit to Pakistan with 120 businessmen from India and said it would boost bilateral trade. Dr Baig said both the countries have agreed that the two sides would sign some agreements to remove non-tariff barriers hampering trade between the two countries. He informed the three agreements signed for promotion of Pak-India trade were agreements of cooperation in custom matters, recognition between the quality and inspection agencies-Pakistan Standards and Quality Control
Authority and Bureau of Indian Standard to formalise mechanism to harmonise standard of export goods and redressal of trade grievance. staff report