Gilani for new era in trade with India

* Prime minister says Islamabad wants to settle all issues with India through dialogue

* Non-state actors from both sides determined to harm peace process

By Shabbir Sarwar

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani called for a new era in economic collaboration with India, as business leaders from the two countries met for a trade conference on Monday.

Addressing the second Pak-India Economic Conference at a local hotel, he said, “We want all our core issues settled through dialogue on equitable basis and want to start a new era of economic collaboration with India.”

Gilani said that Pakistan awaited practical steps from India for the removal of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), which hampered Pakistani exports to the Indian market. He cautioned that both the countries should not be complacent with recent successes in trade talks.

“We are passing through turbulent times in our history in which non-state actors are determined to harm the peace process. Such forces are present on both sides of the border and we have to remain vigilant that they are not be able to derail our hard earned gains,” he said.

He said that it was the time to shed the baggage of the past and grab the opportunity at hand. “We must act with urgency to build relations of mutual trust and respect - relations that allow us to tap the massive economic and creative potential of the peoples of the two countries.”

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