Increasing duties on Pakistani products will result in loss for India itself: Asad Umer

Dunya News

Pakistan would not be affected by trade-related Indian irrational and unwise decision.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Finance Minister Asad Umer on Thursday said that increasing taxes on Pakistani products would eventually result in loss for India itself.

Talking to media in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that Pakistan would not be affected by trade-related Indian irrational and unwise decision and termed it counterproductive for India itself.

The minister said that it was an irrational decision on part of India to raise duties on import of Pakistani products, adding that the trade of Pakistani products would not be affected by this unwise decision, rather it would eventually result in loss for India.

Regarding dialogues with International Monetary Fund (IMF), Umer said that the differences have been narrowed as technical sessions between government and Fund were being conducted on regular basis.

On possibilities about holding regular IMF mission, he said “it would be convened when more or less things are done.”

Earlier, Finance Minister Asad Umar asserted that the federal government has been constantly engaged with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said grooming of professionals is imperative to improve the quality of governance in Pakistan.

The finance minister emphasized that capability of professionals could be utilized in an appropriate manner by providing them better incentives in return. He said collaboration of government and private sector brings improvement in performance of every sector.

Asad Umar said professional training is critically essential for ensuring good governance. He said that the incumbent government has been taking effective measures for the welfare of the traders.

“The government will again talk with the IMF this week and we are sharing economic data with them,” he said, adding that IMF representatives will visit Pakistan after terms are finalized.

Responding to a question, he said “India will suffer loss if duties are increased on Pakistani products while Pakistan will not face any burden.”