Monday, March 27 2006 14:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: India and Pakistan today (Mar 27, 2006) held discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries, including on the issues of tarrif and non-tarrif barriers and cooperation in customs laws and procedures.

Under the aegis of the India-Pakistan Joint Working Group, Commerce Secretary S M Menon and his Pakistan counterpart Syed Asif Shah accompanied by their delegations began the three-day talks, which would include parleys on Islamabad's willingness to discuss the South Asia Free Trade Area agreement, officials said here.

The two sides discussed issues relating to trade facilitation, including tariff and non-tariff barriers and cooperation in matters relating to customs laws and procedures, they said.

The two Commerce Secretaries would meet here tomorrow and the day after to hold talks substantive issues of trade in goods and services under the Composite Dialogue process which is currently in its third round.

A host of issues, including Pakistan's willingness to implement South Asian Free Trade Area, (SAFTA) which has recently been ratified by all the member countries of SAARC, including Pakistan and the extension of Most Favoured Nation, (MFN) treatment to India would be discussed.