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Summary Pakistani Lifestyle Exhibition 2012 inaugurated in New Delhi.
The statement released after Anand Sharma, Union minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles and Pakistan Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood inaugurated the Lifestyle Pakistan 2012, in New Delhi.The first Lifestyle Pakistan exhibits designers in various categories like fashion textiles, jewellery, designer furniture and leather goods showcasing high-end items.The exhibition is one of the steps taken by both India and Pakistan to enhance bilateral commerce and open new channels for shipment of goods.Sharma while inaugurating the event said, It gives me immense pleasure to be in the midst of this distinguished gathering for the inaugural of Lifestyle Exhibition of Pakistan. It is heartening to see 100 exhibitors from all parts of Pakistan participating along with a big delegation of 650 people, in this show, demonstrating the best of Pakistani products.All visitors from Pakistan are always special for all of us as it strikes a unique emotional chord in our hearts, Minister added.Elaborating on the developments Sharma stated, If we look back at the last one year, the intensity of our engagement has been truly amazing. Within a span of less than five months, we have had two bilateral meetings at the Commerce Ministers’ level and will have a third one tomorrow within less than ten months- four meetings between our commerce secretaries and seven engagements of our Ministries’ Joint Secretaries.In addition, there have been many other Joint Working Group meetings relating to customs cooperation, trade infrastructure, possibilities of trade in electricity, visa issues and others. We have held an India Show in Lahore in February and within two months this Pakistan show in New Delhi is indeed heartening.Emphasizing on his earlier announcement made during the visit last year to Pakistan the Indian Minister said, I had given a commitment that India would be in a position to open the Integrated Check Post at Wagah, constructed at a cost of USD 30 million by April and tomorrow the Home Minister along with Makhdoom Fahim Sahib, me and Chief Minister of Punjab will be opening this Gate for trade between our countries. Imagine the potentiality of free flow of trade and how much benefit would accrue to the people of Punjab on both sides.Normalization of trade is a first step in building an enduring investment partnership. We need to change this and an opportunity lost now may well be lost forever, he emphasized.There has been lot of movement in trade in the last one year, the (trade) normalisation is going very fast, Mahmood said.
