Indian commerce minister embarks on Pakistan visit

Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma Sunday embarked on a visit to Pakistan, saying he hoped Islamabad would take steps to allow multifold increase in access to Indian goods in Pakistani market. "There is every reason for us to believe that there is an expressed wish and desire on part of Pakistan to move to the ( negative list) regime which deepens and diversifies trade and enhances economic engagements," Sharma told the media here. Asked whether India is confident that Pakistan will announced negative list during the visit, the Minister said: "This is the understanding which has been given to us when the Pakistani Commerce Secretary came again in November." Islamabad currently permits 1,946 items of imports from India, whereas New Delhi permits import from Pakistan of all, but a few items in the Indian negative list. Asked about multiple-entry visa regime during the visit, Sharma said that there would be discussion on that. "Both the governments have talked. The drafts have been exchanged. We are in favour of an early conclusion of singing of an agreement for a multiple entry visa regime to facilitate the movement of business leaders of India and Pakistan as part of the process of normalization," the minister added.