The Pakistan government is likely to take a crucial decision on the ‘negative list’ trade approach with India in a fortnight, even as the two countries today signed three important pacts to improve economic ties.
The two governments signed agreements on cooperation in customs, mutual recognition of standards and for redressing trade grievances in the presence of commerce, industry and textiles minister Anand Sharma and Pakistani commerce and trade minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem.
While New Delhi pressed Islamabad to reciprocate steps to boost commerce, Yousuf Raza Gilani-led government is likely to decide on “negative list” trade approach with India in a fortnight, sources said.
Concerns raised by some stakeholders regarding the negative list regime would be taken up by the commerce ministry and the proposal would be submitted again at the next Cabinet meeting, they said. However, Mr Faheem said, “We don’t want to rush...One or two of my colleagues wanted to have more information (on the negative list)...We should address every single item (for the negative list) and issues that have to come in between.”
Mr Sharma said New Delhi has already taken steps to improve commerce with Islamabad.
“We have taken the steps we had said we would take. We hope that Pakistan will now take steps so that we can take the relationship forward,” he said.