AlHijjah 16, 1432, Nov 12, 2011, SPA -Pakistan removed restrictions on the import of 12 goods from India as part of measures to normalize trade between the two countries, Pakistani officials said on Saturday. Pakistan last week said it would grant India most-favored nation (MFN) trade status that would help normalize trade by ending huge restriction. India gave MFN status to Pakistan in 1996. Pakistan's Commerce Ministry recently requested the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), the top decision-making body on economic affairs, to increase the number of items that can be imported from India. "The ECC met on Friday and approved the addition of 12 goods in the positive list of items that can be imported from India," a ministry official was quoted as saying by Reuters. Another official said the goods included machinery and raw materials for the leather and textile industries. The decision came as senior commerce officials of the two countries prepare to meet early next week in New Delhi to explore ways to boost bilateral trade. Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Dr.Manmohan Singh hailed progress in diplomatic ties and promised a "new chapter" in ties when they met on the sidelines of a regional summit in the Maldives on Thursday.
