Pakistan has, in principle, agreed to facilitate easier business travel and visa formalities between the two countries by removing the barriers that come in the way to give a fillip to business to business contacts and spur India-Pakistan trade, according to the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) sources.

Humayun Akhtar Khan, Pakistan Commerce Minister, recently said that the wish list of the business communities of the two countries was receiving the highest priority by the two governments. He also made the announcement that the visa regimes and the civil aviation will soon come up for bilateral negotiations.

Both governments were also ready to take a fresh look at the outdated shipping agreement to align it with modern business realities, he said in an interactive meeting organized by FICCI in association with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).

According to the minister, while there was will and determination at the highest political leadership of the two countries to mend and improve the political, economic and cultural ties, there is, unfortunately, very little exposure to the people, particularly the youth, about the realities in each others country.

Pakistan and India had already committed themselves to SAFTA, which has become operational from January 2006. The free trade agreement amongst South Asian nations will be the big stepping stone towards greater and freer trade in the region, he pointed out.

- (Source: FICCI Business Digest)