The Indian government has hinted its readiness to work with its neighbor, Pakistan under the framework of the South Asian Preferential Trading Agreement, SAFTA for preferential trading agreements.

Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said ahead of holding talks with his Pakistani counterpart Zafar Mahmood that the two countries will achieve clarity on the matter through talks and expressed hope that the arrangements will be in place at the soonest. The Commerce Secretaries of the two countries are meeting in the Indian capital for the sixth round of talks.

He also said that the neighbors have already agreed on granting reciprocal visas to libralise the Visa regime for businessmen. He also welcomes the grant of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to India by the government in Pakistan and added that he hopes that the round of talks will result in meaningful and significant results for growing bilateral, economic engagement.

Pakistan Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood said that the two countries are looking to take the dialogue process forward at the beginning of the second round of the composite dialogue.