<p>Pakistan is ready to offer India the most favoured nation (MFN) status from next month, provided New Delhi announces lower duties on 250-300 Pakistani items, a report said Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The government offer to New Delhi was made recently, a high-ranking commerce ministry official told the Dawn. The MFN status means abolishing the negative list of 1,209 items.<br /><br />In 2012, the Pakistan People's Party government opened up the Pakistani market for Indian products, but the deal could not be closed fully in view of last year's general elections. <br /><br />"Now that India itself is going for elections, the PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) government thinks it is a good time for closing the deal with the Congress-led government," it said.<br /><br />Now, any progress would depend on New Delhi's response, the official added.<br /><br />The change of heart in the Pakistani government on the MFN issue was "mostly because of domestic factors", it said.<br /><br />Dawn said interviews with relevant people reveal that the trade deal would only enhance Punjab-to-Punjab trade. <br /><br />Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan said the Wagah border in Punjab would be declared a dry port by the end of February.</p>
<p>Pakistan is ready to offer India the most favoured nation (MFN) status from next month, provided New Delhi announces lower duties on 250-300 Pakistani items, a report said Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The government offer to New Delhi was made recently, a high-ranking commerce ministry official told the Dawn. The MFN status means abolishing the negative list of 1,209 items.<br /><br />In 2012, the Pakistan People's Party government opened up the Pakistani market for Indian products, but the deal could not be closed fully in view of last year's general elections. <br /><br />"Now that India itself is going for elections, the PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) government thinks it is a good time for closing the deal with the Congress-led government," it said.<br /><br />Now, any progress would depend on New Delhi's response, the official added.<br /><br />The change of heart in the Pakistani government on the MFN issue was "mostly because of domestic factors", it said.<br /><br />Dawn said interviews with relevant people reveal that the trade deal would only enhance Punjab-to-Punjab trade. <br /><br />Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan said the Wagah border in Punjab would be declared a dry port by the end of February.</p>