LAHORE: The second Pak-India Economic Conference held under the banner of Aman Ki Asha, a joint initiative of Jang Group Pakistan and Times of India, concluded after continuing for two days here on Tuesday.
Six exhaustive sessions were held on Monday and Tuesday in which economic experts from India and Pakistan representing their respective governments besides notables from public and private sectors ensured their active participation.
They gave their valuable input towards removal of irritants from the way of business and exploration of new avenues for enhanced business activities besides softening the strict visa regime.
Sharat Sabharwal, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, expressed hope that an agreement for liberalising business visa regime between India and Pakistan will be signed during a meeting of senior officials of two countries in coming weeks.
The Indian HC also said that India was mulling over opening new trade routes for trade between the two countries.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in his address during the inaugural session hoped Pakistan-India Economic Conference will boost the peace process between the South Asian neighbours.
He said Pakistan is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with India through dialogue, besides developing bilateral relations on equal basis.
"We want all our core issues settled through dialogue on equitable basis and want to start a new era of economic collaboration with India," said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan also wants to enhance people-to-people contacts to promote peace and prosperity for future generations.
Gilani said both sides are making efforts to boost trade and urged that poverty and disease should not become the fate of this region
He said that our people have suffered due to policies of past and that they deserve better. The PM said that no more time should be wasted. 'We wish settlement of core issues through dialogue', the prime minister said.
Gilani said non-state actors are determined to spoil relations and such elements are present on both sides of border.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said India should take daring steps for sustainable peace in the region and that all issues including the Kashmir dispute should be resolved through talks.
Khar said India and Pakistan should avoid repeating mistakes of harbouring hostilities during the past 60 years and instead open business and trade links for moving ahead towards resolving bilateral core issues.
Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Muhammad Ali during the concluding session of Pak-India Economic Conference said very soon a framework for bilateral investment would be given a final shape.