LAHORE, Jan 10: Inadequate transport and logistics infrastructure at the land borders are major impediments in achieving Indo-Pakistan trade potential in coming months, opined the participants of a roundtable conference on trade between the two countries.

Held on Thursday, the conference was organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) to prepare a working paper for key decision makers in Pakistan and India for future policy guidelines.

There was a consensus that holding road-shows on both sides would bridge the information gap on possible investment opportunities. The participants urged private sector should take the lead to evolve a broader vision to guide the policy makers in the two countries in the larger interest of economies.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baglay recounted the confidence building measures India has taken so far. While quoting the Indian Commerce Minister, Baglay said that for every step Pakistan takes, India was ready to take two. LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar said in his opening remarks that considerable reduction in time and freight charges would result in much predictable and stable inventory management as well.

He stressed the need to open more trade routes between the two countries and also upgrade facilities and services existing at border points in order to handle much expected bigger volume of trade in the days ahead.

He said that serious study to move forward while taking care of concerns shown from both the sides has yet to be framed in order of preferences. For that matter NTBs were required to be removed and the level of acceptance to various certificates issued by the concerned authorities on either side needs to be enhanced.