By IANS,
Mumbai: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim Monday expressed confidence that his visit will prove to be a “stepping stone for future relations” between Pakistan and India as he met Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan.
Members of the top-level business delegation accompanying Fahim told Sankaranarayanan that there is a strong opinion in Pakistan that India should be given the most favoured nation (MFN) status in trade.
They said it was high time that India and Pakistan forgot their differences and dealt with political and business issues exclusive of one another.
Pak Denim CEO Mirza Ikhtiar Baig described Fahim’s visit as “path-breaking”.
He said regional trade has proved to be a successful business model for all the regional blocs across the world and, therefore, SAARC countries should also adopt the same model.
Welcoming the Pakistan delegation to Maharashtra, Sankaranarayanan expressed the hope that the visit will strengthen cooperation between the business communities in the two countries.
Pakistan’s Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood, High Commissioner of Pakistan to India Shahid Malik, senators and heads of business organisations from Pakistan were present on the occasion.
Minister for Protocol Suresh Shetty, Chief Secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad, FICCI Director General Harsh Mariwal and director Vaijayanti Pandit were also present.