New Delhi, April 11
Close on the heels of President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to India, Pakistan is organising its biggest-ever trade exhibition at the Pragati Maidan here from Thursday to be attended by more than 600 top businessmen from across the border.

‘Lifestyle Pakistan’ is the first collaborative exhibition of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). “We are keen to translate the cultural and social affinity and the strong connect between the people of India and Pakistan into expanded bilateral trade and commercial relations,’’ Tariq Puri, Chief Executive of the TDAP, told The Tribune here.

He said the exhibition would help explore the infinite possibilities and opportunities in bilateral trade between the two countries. The exhibition is more or less on the lines of the ‘India Show’ put up by FICCI in Lahore in February.

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Amin Fahim would jointly inaugurate the four-day exhibition.

Items that would be showcased include fashion textiles made of cotton and chiffon, designer furniture, 'Khusas' of Multan, bangles from Hyderabad and leather accessories, among other handicrafts. Besides unique designs, visitors can enjoy authentic Pakistani cuisine and musical performances lined up during the exposition, Puri said.

The Pakistani official said Pakistani businessmen would not be here only to sell their products but buy goods from India. In this connection, he said 32 leading rice exporters from Pakistan were here and had held talks with representatives of the Indian rice exporters’ association. The rice exporters from Pakistan desired to buy rice brand oil extraction plants and machinery, refineries to develop edible oil and rice steaming plants from India. “India has very advance technology and the two countries produce the same variety of rice…your technology is suitable for our rice also.’’ Puri added.

Pakistan High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik said Integrated Check Point (ICP) at the Wagah-Attari border on the Indian side would open on April 13. “We have already opened the check post on our side…once the ICP on the Indian side opens, we will have a free flow of trucks between the two countries.’’

Asked by when Pakistan would do away with the negative list that would lead to granting the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, he said, “Ideally, it should take place soon…but it takes too to tango.’’ India, he said, must also eliminate non-tariff barriers on Pakistani products.

Malik said the India-Pakistan relations were witnessing one of the best phases in their history. “President Zardari discussed a whole range of issues with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit here on Sunday,’’ he added.