New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Dec 9, 2004) told the Rajya Sabha that Pakistan has been asked to give Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India as part of efforts to normalise economic relations but no conclusion has been reached so far.

"We have impressed upon Pakistan that normalisation of economic relations between the two countries must include extending of the MFN status to India," the Prime Minister said intervening during the Question Hour.

In reply to a question, Singh said that the issue of transhipment of goods to Afghanistan via Pakistan has also been discussed with Islamabad. Pakistan has been asked to provide smooth transhipment of goods and material from India to Afghanistan, he said.

The Prime Minister, however, said no conclusion has been reached on these issues so far.

In reply to the main question of carrying out repairs and renovation of buildings in Afghanistan, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said that work was on for construction of a road to enable movement of goods from India to Afghanistan via Iran.

"We are looking for short-cut routes," he said.