Pakistan has not yet removed trade restrictions on land route, granted MFN status to India: Sitharaman

New Delhi, Dec 9 (KNN) Pakistan has not yet granted the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India, Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament today.

The grant of MFN status to India would boost the bilateral trade between the two sides.

India, however, has granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996.

Replying to a question whether Pakistan has granted India the MFN status to India, Sitharaman said “No”,
 
During the seventh round of talks on trade and economic cooperation between commerce secretaries of India and Pakistan in Islamabad in September 2012, it was agreed that Pakistan would transition fully to MFN (non-discriminatory) status for India by December 2012, she said.

"Pakistan, however, did not adhere to the timelines," she added.

She also said Pakistan has not been able to honour its commitments of removing trade restrictions on the land route and granting MFN status to India.

India's main exports to Pakistan include sugar, man-made filaments and chemicals while imports comprise mineral fuels. (KNN Bureau)