India-Pakistan agree to review 1975 Shipping Protocol in September 2005

The two countries agreed on specific measures to enhance bilateral trade, including reviewing air and shipping agreements and facilitating banking and financial cooperation.

Who it concerns: India and Pakistan; specifically involving the Ministry of Commerce (both countries), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), scheduled banks, and sectors including aeronautics, shipping, customs, and telecommunications (fibre optics).

What was agreed

• Aeronautical talks to review the Air Services Agreement scheduled for September 2005 in Pakistan.
• Bilateral meeting to review the 1975 Shipping Protocol scheduled for September 2005 in Pakistan.
• Second Meeting of the Joint Study Group (JSG) to be convened in Islamabad, preceded by sub-group meetings on Non-Tariff Barriers and Customs Cooperation.
• Commitment to process requests for opening branches of scheduled banks in each other's country expeditiously.
• Progress noted on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SEBI and SECP.
• Hope expressed for the establishment and operationalization of a Fibre Optic link between Amritsar and Lahore.

Also in the document

• The agreement references a prior decision from November 2004 regarding the opening of bank branches in each other's country.
• Specific infrastructure goal mentioned: a Fibre Optic link between Amritsar and Lahore.