Islamabad, February 20: The issue of Pakistan giving India Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status is being misconstrued though it is only meant to ensure that there is no discrimination in trade between the two countries, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza said o Sunday.
Gilani made the remarks while interacting with journalists during a private visit to Pir Jo Goth in southern Sindh province.
He said a similar status had already been given to 100 other countries across the world. The federal cabinet had allowed the Commerce Ministry to negotiate with its Indian counterpart on the issue of trade balance, he said.
The government will never compromise on the country's national interests while taking steps like giving India MFN status, he said.
Gilani noted that since his government came to power in 2008, trade across the Line of Control (LoC) had been recorded at Rs 15 billion.
The annual trade between China and India, despite their border dispute, was to the tune of USD 60 billion, he pointed out.
Several extremist groups, including the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, have opposed the government’s decision to give MFN status by the end of the year. They have threatened to launch protests if the government goes ahead with the move.
Following talks between Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Amin Fahim in Islamabad last week, the two sides agreed to switch over to a negative list regime for trade by the end of February.
PTI
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