India and Pakistan are considering opening more land customs stations between both the countries.
Official level talks will continue in this regard, a joint statement by the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Anand Sharma, and the Pakistan Commerce Minister, Mr Makhdoom Mohammad Amin Fahim, said on Saturday.
The statement said that more such stations “would enhance greater economic engagement between business communities of both sides and deepen bilateral cooperation”.
This move follows the recent co-ordinated efforts by the two countries to ensure that the new gates at the Attari Integrated Check Post are functional for trade.
The new arrangements are to streamline movement of trucks across the border and significantly enhance the flow of trade through land route.
Pakistan has already built sufficient infrastructure at Wagah and is clearing cargo traffic.
The new check post will make it possible for trade to be conducted over longer hours during any working day, the statement said.
Pakistan has agreed to take steps to remove extant restrictions on items permitted to be imported through the land route.
The objective is to permit all items not in the negative list (goods that are not open to trade) to be traded across the Attari-Wagah land border.
Negative list
Pakistan has announced a negative list of 1,209 tariff lines for trade with India.
Islamabad has said that a decision on completely phasing out the list by December is subject to further negotiations.
Modalities in this regard will be discussed at the next meeting of the commerce secretaries.
The two sides also agreed to fast-track talks on trade in petroleum products and electricity. In addition, the joint statement said that the respective central banks are examining issues relating to opening of bank branches of both the countries.
India and Pakistan are also looking at liberalising the business visa regime soon. A formal decision on this is expected at the forthcoming bilateral home secretary-level talks.