India, Pakistan agreed on steps to boost trade and commerce

New Delhi
10 August 2005

India and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to review the air
services agreement and the shipping protocol besides processing requests for opening
of bank branches in both countries. The two sides also hoped that a fibre optic link
between Amritsar and Lahore would be established and operationalised at the earliest.

A joint statement issued after conclusion of the second round of India-Pakistan talks on
economic and commercial cooperation said the two sides agreed that aeronautical talks
would be held in Pakistan in September to review the existing air services agreement.
Also, a bilateral meeting to review the shipping protocol of 1975 would be held in
Pakistan in September.

The second meeting of the joint study group would be convened at an early date in
Islamabad. That meeting would be preceded by the meeting of the sub-groups on non-
tariff barriers and customs cooperation and trade facilitation to formulate
recommendations for consideration by the joint study group, the joint statement said.

Both sides also noted the progress achieved in concluding a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and
Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to benefit from each other’s
experiences.

The August 9-10 talks were part of the composite dialogue. The Indian delegation was led
by Commerce Secretary SN Menon. The Pakistan delegation was led by the acting
secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Syed Asif Shah.

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