ISLAMABAD: Pakistan aims to increase its exports to India to the tune of one billion dollars within a year, as made-up textile products and readymade garments have great potential to make their way to the markets of neghbouring country, Commerce Minister Khurram Distagir Khan said.
The minister was chairing a meeting with Pakistani counterparts of Pak India Business Council delegation led by Yawar Ali Shah.
The minister was of the view that due to land route, Pakistan is the most favorite and cost-effective market for India in terms of importing raw material for their agriculture and textile products.
The minister was of the view that trade concessions to India cannot be offered unilaterally and India also needs to provide access to Pakistani products with preferential duty regime.
He also informed the delegation that the ministry has restructured National Tariff Commission (NTC) in line with the legal framework guided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Earlier, the delegation informed the minister that Indian food manufactures were looking for different Pakistani agriculture products like Mango and Kinno in specific seasons.
Pakistan agriculture products like green peas can also be exported to India, as they run freezing plants at far less capacity of 200,000 tons.
The business interlocutors were of the view that trade between both the countries should cooperate in promoting SME, Agriculture, Tourism and Culture, Research sectors, Basmati Rice branding issue and exchange of business groups visits.
Later, a delegation of Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association called on Minister for Commerce with an agenda to boost exports in Gems and Jewelry products.
Assuring full support to the business group, the minister said that the government would move further ahead in increasing exports and soliciting resources until exports fraternity come forward and take initiatives and mobilize their resources.
The minister told the delegation that keeping in view the potential of exports of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the government has decided to allocate substantial budget in next fiscal to establishing multi-billion Expo Center in Peshawar.
The Gem export products shall also be showcased by including them in TDAP’s exhibition calendar, the minister added.
