Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

07-May-2012 15:16 IST

Pakistan Exhibition in Delhi

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan(TDAP), Karachi organised ‘Lifestyle Pakistan’ Exhibition at Hall No. 18, Pragati Maidan from April 12-15, 2012.

As per the information furnished by India Trade Promotion Organisation(ITPO), 95 Pakistani companies participated in the above exhibition displaying products such as fashion accessories, fabrics, home textiles, leather goods, furniture, handicrafts & Jewellery. A total of 28,916 entry tickets to Pragati Maidan were sold during this period.

Visa restriction is considered a major hurdle by traders in the normalization of bilateral trade ties between India and Pakistan. In the Joint Statement issued after the bilateral discussion held on 13.4.2012 between Commerce Ministers of India and Pakistan both Ministers expressed joint wish that business visa regime needs to be liberalized at the earliest. It was also noted that a formal decision on this is expected to be taken at the forthcoming meeting of Home Secretary of India and Secretary of Ministry of Interior of Pakistan.

This information was given by Shri Jyotiradiya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

DS/GK

Business visa liberalization sought to ease bilateral trade ties, with decision moved to Home Secretary-level consultations. Visa restrictions are identified as a major impediment to normalization of bilateral trade, and following ministerial discussions both sides expressed a joint wish to liberalize the business visa regime to ease commercial exchanges; a formal decision was expected to be taken at an upcoming Home Secretary-level meeting between internal affairs officials, indicating a shift from ministerial intent to administrative consultation on visa policy and trade facilitation.